Houston, TX vs Wake Forest, NC
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
Wake Forest
68.8
#1286 nationally
Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 20). Wake Forest leads in median household income ($115,159 vs $57,791). Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 116).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Wake Forest, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 68.8 (#1286) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 54,337 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $513,720 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $115,159 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 20 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 4.0 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+25.6 |
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
Wake Forest, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$513,720
Population
54,337
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
20
Southeast
View Wake Forest, NC →
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