Pulling 100+ data points across 12 categories — usually under 5 seconds.
CA→
TXFor a couple moving from Los Angeles, CA to Austin, TX: Austin comes out ahead on 7 of 12 categories, almost entirely from cheaper housing, stronger schools and better healthcare access. The tradeoffs: Los Angeles has 20% higher median household income and Los Angeles has 39% higher walkability.
Austin, on balance.
For a couple
Los Angeles, CAAustin, TXAustinLos Angeles
Rent, the price of everything, and what the tax code keeps — the numbers that decide whether the move pays off.
Add your household income on the comparison page and we'll translate it into what it's worth in Austin after taxes, rent, and the cost-of-living delta.
Add your income → /compareThe makeup, the faiths, the politics, and the laws that shape daily life — the part the cost-of-living math leaves out.
US Census ACS 2024 · the full race & ethnicity makeup (Hispanic of any race). Shares sum to ~100%.
No income tax, mega-economies, hot summers, big swings.
Share of houses of worship mapped in OpenStreetMap, by faith — a read on the religious mix here, not a population census. We show the mix rather than raw counts because OSM doesn't map every congregation, so absolute totals run low; smaller faiths especially are undercounted.
The law as it stands in 2026 — stated as fact, not endorsement. What reads as a dealbreaker to one person is the draw for another.
Near-total ban; exception only for life/serious health risk.
No statewide nondiscrimination law; bans gender-affirming care for minors.
Compassionate-Use low-THC (≤1%) only; no broad medical.
Permitless carry since 2021; few firearm restrictions.
Sources: Guttmacher Institute & Center for Reproductive Rights (abortion), Movement Advancement Project (LGBTQ+), DISA (cannabis), Giffords Law Center (guns), AP / Ballotpedia / Cook PVI (politics). Reflects laws in effect as of 2026 · last verified May 2026.
All of this is state-level. City and neighborhood life can differ sharply — a blue city in a red state, or a conservative suburb in a blue one. A place can ace the cost, schools, and safety numbers and still feel very different day-to-day depending on who you are. Use this as a baseline, not a substitute for visiting.
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