Baytown vs Houston
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $197,300 in Baytown and $277,800 in Houston.
- Households earn more in Houston ($64,813 vs $59,910 median).
- Houston has more scorching days: 111 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 84.
- Houston is growing faster: +4.2% since 2020 vs +1.2%.
Side by side
| Baytown, TX | Houston, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 86,561 | 2,397,315 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.2% | +4.2% |
| People per square mile | 2,137 | 3,741 |
| Median age | 34.0 | 34.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15% | 37% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $59,910 | $64,813 |
| Median home value | $197,300 | $277,800 |
| Home value to income | 3.3× | 4.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,307 | $1,361 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $74,000 | $74,000 |
| Homeowners | 52% | 42% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 25.4 | 27.2 |
| Work from home | 6% | 13% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 10.2% | 6.9% |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 19.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 63° / 41° | 64° / 44° |
| July high / low | 92° / 75° | 95° / 76° |
| Precipitation per year | 65 in | 52 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 84 | 111 |
| Nights below freezing | 9 | 10 |
| Comfortable months | 2 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 10% | 10% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.4% | +3.4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +32.7% | +32.7% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Baytown: February to March. Houston: November to April.
Full monthly tables: Baytown weather by month and Houston weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $74,000 in Baytown and $74,000 in Houston. Moving from Baytown to Houston, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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