Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands and San Antonio-New Braunfels receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | San Antonio-New Braunfels | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,442,788 | 2,662,733 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,168 | $76,213 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,619 | $38,364 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 842/sq mi | 364/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $298,000 | $278,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,430 | $1,363 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.2% | 63.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 32.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 60,134 | 9,880 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.1 | 3.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -11.6% | -25.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.4 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, inland flooding.
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area · San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology