Houston, TX vs Waterloo, IA
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
Waterloo
81.8
#36 nationally
Waterloo leads in average commute (16.5 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 37). Waterloo leads in cost of living index (88 vs 96).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Waterloo, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 81.8 (#36) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 66,606 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $149,005 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $54,104 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 16.5 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 37 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 13.0 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+1.2 |
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 →
B-
81.8 Score
Waterloo, IA
Iowa community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$149,005
Population
66,606
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
37
Midwest
View Waterloo, IA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Houston for: