Houston, TX vs Monterey, 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Monterey
62.7
#1834 nationally
Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 192). Monterey leads in median household income ($98,003 vs $57,791). Monterey leads in average commute (19.1 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Monterey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 62.7 (#1834) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 29,116 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $1,179,065 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $98,003 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 19.1 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 53 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 10.5 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 192 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+29.9 |
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 →
D-
62.7 Score
Monterey, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,179,065
Population
29,116
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
53
Pacific
View Monterey, CA →