Houston, TX vs Visalia, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Visalia
68.8
#1285 nationally
Visalia leads in median household income ($75,658 vs $57,791). Visalia leads in average commute (21.8 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 122).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 68.8 (#1285) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 144,998 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $401,379 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $75,658 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 21.8 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 39 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 11.9 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+20.7 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
D+
68.8 Score
Visalia, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$401,379
Population
144,998
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
39
Pacific
View Visalia, CA →