Houston, TX vs Wilmette, IL
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
Wilmette
71
#1040 nationally
Wilmette leads in median household income ($183,750 vs $57,791). Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 162). Houston leads in average commute (28.5 min vs 35.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Wilmette, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 71 (#1040) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 27,026 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $1,007,961 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $183,750 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 35.7 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 58 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 0.6 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 162 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+42.0 |
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 →
C-
71 Score
Wilmette, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,007,961
Population
27,026
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
58
Midwest
View Wilmette, IL →