Golden, CO vs Houston, TX
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.
Golden
67.8
#1379 nationally
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 152). Golden leads in median household income ($90,990 vs $57,791). Golden leads in average commute (23.8 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Golden, CO | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.8 (#1379) | 72.1 (#926) |
| Population | 20,242 | 2,314,157 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $865,982 | $263,563 |
| Median Household Income | $90,990 | $57,791 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 48 |
| Crime Level | 3.4 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 96 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+19.5 | D+5.5 |
D+
67.8 Score
Golden, CO
Small Colorado city with local appeal
Median Home
$865,982
Population
20,242
Crime
Low
Walk Score
42
West
View Golden, CO →
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 →