Is Houston cheaper than Albuquerque?

No. Albuquerque is cheaper: typical rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,361 in Houston — 16% lower. Median household income is $64,813 in Houston compared with $68,317 in Albuquerque, so Albuquerque has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Houston or Albuquerque?

Houston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 179 in Albuquerque — 39% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Houston or Albuquerque?

School composites are close: A- in Houston and A- in Albuquerque. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Houston, TX vs Albuquerque, NM

Houston, TX versus Albuquerque, NM is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,361 a month in Houston and $1,145 in Albuquerque, and median household income lands at $64,813 versus $68,317. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Houston takes safety, while Albuquerque takes affordability, job market, and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Houston leads by 39% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Houston can feel further apart than Houston and Albuquerque do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Houston and Albuquerque reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Houston report Full Albuquerque report

Houston, TX

Rent: $1,361/mo
Median income: $64,813
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 89°F

Albuquerque, NM

Rent: $1,145/mo
Median income: $68,317
Crime index: 179
Schools: A-
Weather: 84°F

Rent

16% cheaper

Albuquerque rent is 16% cheaper than Houston

Houston

$1,361/mo

Albuquerque

Winner

$1,145/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,361 in Houston, so Albuquerque is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,592 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Albuquerque still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Houston.

Median income

5% higher

Albuquerque's median income is 5% higher than Houston

Houston

$64,813

Albuquerque

Winner

$68,317

What this means for your life

Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Albuquerque — about $3,504 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

39% lower crime

Houston's crime index is 39% lower than Albuquerque

Houston

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Albuquerque

179 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Houston's crime index is 109 versus 179 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Houston. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Houston is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Houston and Albuquerque are about even on school scores.

Houston

A- · 84/100

Albuquerque

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Houston, A- in Albuquerque). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

23% more comfortable

Albuquerque weather is 23% more comfortable than Houston

Houston

89°F typical

Albuquerque

Winner

84°F typical

What this means for your life

Albuquerque scores 23% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 89°F in Houston and 84°F in Albuquerque. Houston reads as hot, long summers; Albuquerque reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Albuquerque is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Houston can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Houston

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Houston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Albuquerque (109 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Houston report →

Fit check

Who should choose Albuquerque

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($68,317), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 84°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Albuquerque report →

Bottom line

Houston vs Albuquerque, called

If safety is your priority, Houston is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Albuquerque pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Albuquerque offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Houston vs Albuquerque FAQ

Is Houston cheaper than Albuquerque?: No. Albuquerque is cheaper: typical rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,361 in Houston — 16% lower. Median household income is $64,813 in Houston compared with $68,317 in Albuquerque, so Albuquerque has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Houston or Albuquerque?: Houston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 179 in Albuquerque — 39% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Houston or Albuquerque?: School composites are close: A- in Houston and A- in Albuquerque. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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