Houston, TX vs Marion, 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
Marion
80.8
#63 nationally
Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 32). Marion leads in average commute (19.2 min vs 28.5 min). Marion leads in median household income ($81,519 vs $57,791).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Marion, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 80.8 (#63) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 42,213 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $281,229 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $81,519 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 19.2 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 32 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 3.4 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+9.9 |
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-
80.8 Score
Marion, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$281,229
Population
42,213
Crime
Low
Walk Score
32
Midwest
View Marion, IA →