Houston, TX vs Payson, UT
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
Payson
72.9
#812 nationally
Payson leads in median household income ($81,387 vs $57,791). Payson leads in average commute (21 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 36).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Payson, UT |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 72.9 (#812) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 24,054 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $477,164 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $81,387 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 21 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 36 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 3.5 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 111 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+39.8 |
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
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C-
72.9 Score
Payson, UT
Small Utah city with local appeal
Median Home
$477,164
Population
24,054
Crime
Low
Walk Score
36
West
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