Austin, TX vs Walnut Creek, 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
Walnut Creek
61.4
#1910 nationally
Austin leads in cost of living index (129 vs 197). Walnut Creek leads in median household income ($129,971 vs $91,461). Austin leads in average commute (26.8 min vs 35.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | Walnut Creek, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 61.4 (#1910) |
| Population | 967,862 | 69,152 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $1,032,096 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $129,971 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 35.1 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 7.7 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 197 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+38.0 |
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-
61.4 Score
Walnut Creek, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,032,096
Population
69,152
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Walnut Creek, CA →
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