Atlanta vs Houston
Compare Atlanta, GA and Houston, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,446/mo in Atlanta and $1,301/mo in Houston, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,844/mo and $1,357/mo. State income tax also separates them — Houston's rate is roughly 0% versus 5.2%. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (264 vs 257 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Atlanta runs summer highs near 89°F and winter lows near 34°F, while Houston runs 94°F and 42°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Houston; if walkable daily life matters more, Houston screens stronger on the walkability proxy (22 vs 21). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Houston leads 66 to 63 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Atlanta leads 69 to 58 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Atlanta is roughly $103,578 in Houston using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Atlanta | Houston | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,446/mo | $1,301/mo | Houston |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,844/mo | $1,357/mo | Houston |
| Median home value | $300,000 | $254,000 | Houston |
| State income tax | 5.2% | None | Houston |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 32.5 min | Houston |
| Safety score | 55/100 | 31/100 | Atlanta |
| School score | 7/10 | 6/10 | Atlanta |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 22/100 | Houston |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 199.3 | 181.2 | Atlanta |
| Mountain distance | 30 mi | 299 mi | Atlanta |
| Coast distance | 224 mi | 19 mi | Houston |
What stands out
Atlanta stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Trail access within 46 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
Atlanta tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Houston stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Trail access within 45 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Houston tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Atlanta cheaper than Houston?
On public benchmarks Houston is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,446/mo in Atlanta vs $1,301/mo in Houston; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,844/mo vs $1,357/mo; state income tax is 5.2% vs 0%.
Is Atlanta or Houston safer?
Atlanta screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 55/100 for Atlanta and 31/100 for Houston (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Atlanta or Houston?
School screens show 7/10 for Atlanta vs 6/10 for Houston, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Atlanta and Houston?
Atlanta: summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 34°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Houston: 94°F / 42°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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