Austin, TX vs Grand Rapids, MI
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
Grand Rapids
73.4
#738 nationally
Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $54,789). Grand Rapids leads in cost of living index (91 vs 129). Grand Rapids leads in average commute (21.2 min vs 26.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 73.4 (#738) |
| Population | 967,862 | 201,013 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $311,699 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $54,789 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 21.2 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 52 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Moderate |
| School Rating | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 91 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+5.4 |
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 →
C
73.4 Score
Grand Rapids, MI
Beer City USA with West Michigan charm
Median Home
$311,699
Population
201,013
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Grand Rapids, MI →
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