Austin, TX vs Brea, 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.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
Brea
64.3
#1700 nationally
Austin leads in cost of living index (129 vs 178). Brea leads in median household income ($120,226 vs $91,461). Brea leads in walk score (50 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Brea, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 64.3 (#1700) |
| Population | 967,862 | 48,479 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $1,134,146 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $120,226 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 31.1 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 50 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 5.8 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+2.6 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
D
64.3 Score
Brea, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,134,146
Population
48,479
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Brea, CA →