Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Which is the better fit for you?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,442,788 | 3,304,691 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,168 | $74,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,619 | $43,878 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 842/sq mi | 1,314/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $298,000 | $345,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,430 | $1,628 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.2% | 67.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 34.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 60,134 | 22,284 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.1 | 6.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -11.6% | 17.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 53°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.6" | 49.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.4 | 42.2 | 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.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area · Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology