California
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
California vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, California has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and California gets more sunshine.
California
CA · West
12 / 33
metrics won
VS
Texas
TX · South
21 / 33
metrics won
Winner
TX wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
CA wins Demographics
TX wins Taxes
CA wins Jobs
CA 12
21 TX
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Texas fits you better
Texas wins 21 of 33 scored metrics against California.
Your match — Saving Money
Texas is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 94.3 in Texas vs 138.5 in California. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
California has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in California vs $7.25/hr in Texas. Matters most for hourly and entry-level work. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Texas is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.40x in Texas vs 8.25x in California. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Weather
Texas is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 64.8°F in Texas vs 59.4°F in California. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
California looks better for families
California wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including life expectancy, uninsured rate, bachelor's degree, compared with Texas. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Texas
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Sacramento
vs
Austin
State Color
Solid Blue
vs
Solid Red
Population
39,345,844
32,101,064
Median Income
$84,097
$66,963
Cost of Living
138.5
94.3
Median Housing Value
$693,700
$294,400
Property Tax
0.70%
1.49%
State Income Tax
13.30%
None (0%)
Minimum Wage
$16.50/hr
$7.25/hr
Gas Price
$5.929/gal
$3.824/gal
Electricity Rates
30.29 c/kWh
15.69 c/kWh
Livability Score
50.49
47.21
Average Temperature
59.4°F
64.8°F
Sunny Days
146 days
135 days
Land Area
163,696 sq mi
268,596 sq mi
Population Density
240.4 per sq mi
119.5 per sq mi
Statehood
September 9, 1850 (#31)
December 29, 1845 (#28)
Population
39,345,844
32,101,064
Population Density
240.4 per sq mi
119.5 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
37.5%
34.2%
Advanced Degree
14.7%
12.6%
Net Domestic Migration
-229,100
+67,300
Population Growth Since 2020
-0.5%
+10.1%
Livability Score
50.49
47.21
Best State to Live In
50.49
47.21
Cost of Living
138.5
94.3
Gas Price
$5.929/gal
$3.824/gal
Gas Tax
54.00 c/gal
20.00 c/gal
Electricity Rates
30.29 c/kWh
15.69 c/kWh
Commute Time
28.4 min
26.6 min
Car Insurance Cost
$2,567/yr
$2,577/yr
Average Credit Score
721
692
Average Temperature
59.4°F
64.8°F
Summer Temperature
73.4°F
81.1°F
Winter Temperature
46.2°F
47.9°F
Sunny Days
146 days
135 days
Annual Precipitation
22.2 in
28.9 in
Average Wind Speed
7.0 mph
10.1 mph
Lightning Density
3.6 per sq mi
154.9 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$693,700
$294,400
Median Gross Rent
$1,856/mo
$1,232/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$3,001/mo
$2,211/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$882/mo
$703/mo
Homeownership Rate
55.8%
62.6%
Home Value to Income Ratio
8.25x
4.40x
Rent to Income Ratio
26.5%
22.1%
Owner Costs to Income
21.0%
18.0%
Home Insurance Cost
$1,348/yr
$6,854/yr
State Income Tax
13.30%
None (0%)
State Sales Tax
7.25%
6.25%
Property Tax
0.70%
1.49%
Total Tax Burden
9.24%
7.69%
Grocery Tax Rate
0% (Exempt)
0% (Exempt)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
No State Death Tax
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
No
vs
No
State Color
Solid Blue
vs
Solid Red
Presidential Voting Margin
Dem +20.10
Rep +13.66
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Not a battleground
Governor Party
Democratic
vs
Republican
State House Control
Democratic
vs
Republican
State Senate Control
Democratic
vs
Republican
Trifecta
Democratic Trifecta
vs
Republican Trifecta
Electoral Votes
54
40
Gun Laws Status
Restrictive
vs
Permissive
Alcohol Laws
License State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Legal
vs
Medical
Minimum Marriage Age
No statutory minimum
16
Gun Ownership
20.7%
44.9%
Abortion Law Status
Legal - Viability (~24 weeks (viability))
vs
Total Ban (Banned)
Right-to-Work Law
No
vs
Yes
Land Area
163,696 sq mi
268,596 sq mi
Highest Point
Mount Whitney (14,505 ft)
Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft)
Statehood
September 9, 1850 (#31)
December 29, 1845 (#28)
Capital City
Sacramento
vs
Austin
Region
West
vs
South
Life Expectancy
79.2 yrs
76.2 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
74.7
30.5
Uninsured Rate
6.4%
16.4%
Obesity Rate
29.1%
35.6%
Healthcare Quality Score
71.6
35.6
Infant Mortality Rate
4.18 per 1,000
5.70 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
21.7 per 100,000
15.8 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
499.5 per 100k
431.8 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
2387.5 per 100k
2338.9 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
25
17
Casinos
83 (Pechanga Resort Casino)
4 (Kickapoo Lucky Eagle)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
41.1 per 100K
25.6 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Tesla
vs
Ford
K-12 Education Rank
#32
#38
High School Graduation Rate
84.0%
90.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.2:1
14.8:1
School Spending
$20,233
$12,444
Teacher Salary
$103,552
$63,749
Public School Ranking
#8
#34
Student Loan Debt
$38,300
$33,770
College Graduation Rate
60.2%
45.3%
Median Income
$84,097
$66,963
Regional Price Parity
113.4
97.2
Purchasing Power of $100
$92.31
$109.17
Poverty Rate
12.0%
13.7%
Employment/Population Ratio
60.2%
62.6%
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
4.3%
Job Growth
-0.1%
0.9%
Infant Childcare Cost
$21,945/yr
$10,706/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$119,475/yr
$90,771/yr
Water Quality Score
83.7/100 (A)
78.1/100 (B)
Annual Power Outage Hours
4.7 hours/yr
21.2 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#47
#36
Renewable Electricity Share
43.6%
33.1%
Largest Airport
Los Angeles International (LAX)
vs
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
California
Pros
- California shows higher median income.
- California has lower property tax rates on average.
- California health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- California health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- California education proxy is higher.
- California has more sunny days.
Cons
- California has a higher overall cost of living.
- California has a higher housing cost index.
- California has higher median home values.
- California has a higher violent crime rate.
- California job growth trend is weaker.
Texas
Pros
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has a lower housing cost index.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has a lower violent crime rate.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Texas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Texas education proxy is lower.
- Texas has fewer sunny days.
People also ask
California vs Texas — common questions
QIs California cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 138.5 for California - a gap of 44.2 points.
QWhere does $100 go further - California or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $92.31 in California.
QWhich state is bigger - California or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 163,696 sq mi for California - roughly 1.6x the size.
QDoes California or Texas have more people?
California has the larger population at 39,345,844, compared with 32,101,064 in Texas.
QWhich state has higher household income - California or Texas?
California has the higher median household income at $84,097, versus $66,963 in Texas.
QWhich state has lower income taxes - California or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while California charges up to 13.30%.
QIs housing cheaper in California or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $693,700 in California.
QWhich state is more densely populated - California or Texas?
California is more densely populated at 240.4 per sq mi people per sq mi. Texas is more spread out at 119.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related comparisons
Methodology
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.