Houston TX vs St. Petersburg FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Houston, TX
Texas · Population: 2,300,419
- Median HH Income$62,894
- Median Home Price$265,062
- Unemployment6.7%
- Bachelor's+36.0%
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Houston
2,300,419
Houston +
St. Petersburg
260,646
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Houston
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
Median Age
Houston
34.3
Houston +
St. Petersburg
43.1
Foreign Born
Houston
28.8%
Houston +
St. Petersburg
10.1%
White
Houston
35.5%
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
Black
Houston
22.9%
Houston +
St. Petersburg
19.4%
Asian
Houston
6.9%
Houston +
St. Petersburg
3.1%
Hispanic
Houston
44.1%
Houston +
St. Petersburg
9.3%
Spanish at Home
Houston
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | 260,646 | Houston + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 43.1 | Houston + |
| Foreign Born | 28.8% | 10.1% | Houston + |
| White | 35.5% | 66.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 22.9% | 19.4% | Houston + |
| Asian | 6.9% | 3.1% | Houston + |
| Hispanic | 44.1% | 9.3% | Houston + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Houston
$62,894
St. Petersburg
$73,118
St. Petersburg +
Per Capita Income
Houston
$41,142
St. Petersburg
$49,823
St. Petersburg +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Houston
$63,758
St. Petersburg
$65,328
St. Petersburg +
Unemployment Rate
Houston
6.7%
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Poverty Rate
Houston
19.7%
St. Petersburg
11.7%
St. Petersburg +
Bachelor's Degree+
Houston
36.0%
St. Petersburg
41.3%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $62,894 | $73,118 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Income | $41,142 | $49,823 | St. Petersburg + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $65,328 | St. Petersburg + |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7% | 4.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 19.7% | 11.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 36.0% | 41.3% | St. Petersburg + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Houston
$265,062
Houston +
St. Petersburg
$331,500
Homeownership Rate
Houston
42.0%
St. Petersburg
63.0%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $265,062 | $331,500 | Houston + |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 63.0% | St. Petersburg + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Houston
442
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Houston
2339
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 324 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 1453 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Houston
38.0%
St. Petersburg
32.7%
St. Petersburg +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Houston
13.9%
St. Petersburg
12.2%
St. Petersburg +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Houston
17.1%
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Houston
24.0%
St. Petersburg
11.1%
St. Petersburg +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Houston
16.7%
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Houston
13.6%
St. Petersburg
12.4%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 38.0% | 32.7% | St. Petersburg + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.9% | 12.2% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.1% | 16.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 24.0% | 11.1% | St. Petersburg + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.7% | 16.6% | St. Petersburg + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 12.4% | St. Petersburg + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Houston
N/A
St. Petersburg
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Houston
48.7 in
St. Petersburg
N/A
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 48.7 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Houston
9.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Houston
55.0%
St. Petersburg
75.0%
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | St. Petersburg + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Houston
29.6 min
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
St. Petersburg +
| Metric | Houston, TX | St. Petersburg, FL | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 29.6 min | 26.8 min | St. Petersburg + |
Which City is Right for You?
St. Petersburg leads in median household income at $73,118, while houston offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,062. On public safety, St. Petersburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Houston. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Petersburg scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.7%.
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