Houston or Los Angeles: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Houston wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Houston 3:1
- Climate and risks: Houston 3:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Houston
Indicator
Los Angeles
Money
Better: Houston (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$76,916
202411% lower
✓$86,376
202412% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,638
2026-09-3044% lower
✗$2,929
2026-09-3079% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$302,832
2026-09-3068% lower
✗$950,020
2026-09-30214% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓98.6 100 = US average
202413% lower
✗113.6 100 = US average
202415% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Houston (3 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓63 AQI
202421% lower
✗80 AQI
202427% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓63 days per year
202453% lower
✗134 days per year
2024113% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗163 days per year
2016-2025191% higher
✓56 days per year
2016-202566% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
578 °C·days per year
2016-2025
450 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,085 °C·days per year
2016-2025
863 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
81 days per year
2016-2025
26 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
no data for one of the places
0 days per year
2016-2025
no data
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,335 mm per year
2016-2025
394 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
10.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
71 %
2021-2025
72 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗158 days per year
2021-202515680% higher
✓1 days per year
2021-202599% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
34 km
2006-2025
23 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.45 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
5.4 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
7,796,182 people
2024
12,927,614 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Houston, Los Angeles.