Houston, TX vs Watsonville, 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
Watsonville
63.3
#1786 nationally
Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 152). Watsonville leads in walk score (69 vs 48). Watsonville leads in median household income ($72,295 vs $57,791).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Watsonville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 63.3 (#1786) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 50,867 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $828,739 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $72,295 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 69 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 10.9 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 152 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+54.4 |
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
63.3 Score
Watsonville, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$828,739
Population
50,867
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
69
Pacific
View Watsonville, CA →
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