New York
NY • Northeast
Quality of Life Score
57.94
State Comparison
New York vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, New York has higher incomes, Texas has lower state income tax, and Texas gets more sunshine.
New York
8
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
23
/ 31
metrics won
TX wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
TX wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
New York
winner
vs
Texas
New York scores higher on quality of life — 10.73 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Texas is 38.4 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while New York is at 132.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $20.87 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $88.30 in New York.
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Income
New York income is 17.4% higher
New York has the higher median household income at $78,609, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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Jobs
New York minimum wage is $9.25 higher
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Texas.
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Housing
New York homes cost about 1.2x more
Texas has the lower median home value at $294,400, versus $367,200 in New York.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
View detailed comparisonTake-Home Calculator
What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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New York
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 10.9%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Texas
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (114.8 for New York, 97.2 for Texas). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
New York
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New York
- New York shows higher median income.
- New York has a lower violent crime rate.
- New York health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- New York health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- New York education proxy is higher.
Cons
- New York has a higher overall cost of living.
- New York has a higher housing cost index.
- New York has higher median home values.
- New York has higher property tax rates on average.
- New York job growth trend is weaker.
- New York has fewer sunny days.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has a lower housing cost index.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has lower property tax rates on average.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Texas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Texas education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
NY
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Albany | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
20,201,249
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,609
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
132.7
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$367,200
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.55%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
10.90%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.50/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.069/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
57.94
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
45.4°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
63 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
54,555 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
18
shown
Saving Money
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 vs 132.7 in New York. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas vs $4.069/gal in New York. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in New York vs $7.25/hr in Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Texas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.69 c/kWh in Texas vs 28.37 c/kWh in New York. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Texas is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.40x in Texas vs 4.67x in New York. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Texas is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 22.1% in Texas vs 24.1% in New York. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
New York vs Texas - Common Questions
Q Is New York cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 38.4 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - New York or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $88.30 in New York.
Q Which state is bigger - New York or Texas?
Texas is larger, covering 268,596 sq mi compared with 54,555 sq mi for New York - roughly 4.9x the size.
Q Does New York or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 20,201,249 in New York.
Q Which state has higher household income - New York or Texas?
New York has the higher median household income at $78,609, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - New York or Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, while New York charges up to 10.90%.
Q Is housing cheaper in New York or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $367,200 in New York.
Q Which state is more densely populated - New York or Texas?
New York is more densely populated at 370.3 per sq mi people per sq mi. Texas is more spread out at 108.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.