Houston, TX vs Portage, MI
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
Portage
73.7
#692 nationally
Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 20). Portage leads in average commute (19.7 min vs 28.5 min). Portage leads in median household income ($74,837 vs $57,791).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Portage, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 73.7 (#692) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 49,302 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $304,854 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $74,837 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 19.7 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 20 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 7.6 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 97 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+17.7 |
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
73.7 Score
Portage, MI
Small Michigan city with local appeal
Median Home
$304,854
Population
49,302
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
20
Midwest
View Portage, MI →