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Atlanta vs Houston [2025] | ⭐️ Comparing the Pros and Cons of Living in Atlanta vs Houston!
Are you trying to decide between moving to Atlanta vs Houston? Houston and Atlanta both offer a warm climate, thriving (and huge!) metro areas, and excellent job opportunities in addition to recreation. They’re also both affordable for large cities.
Atlanta is the City in the Forest thanks to its beautiful green space and mature trees, also known for its thriving nightlife and historic significance. By comparison, Houston is the Bayou City, and the Space City, famous for its leading role in the energy and aerospace industry.
Choosing between moving to and living in Atlanta GA vs Houston TX will simply come down to what you’re looking for in terms of a career, nightlife, and entertainment, among a few other notable idiosyncrasies of each locale.
This guide to the pros and cons of living in Atlanta versus Houston covers everything you want to know to make your choice between the two cities.
What’s the Difference Between Living in Atlanta vs Houston?
Atlanta and Houston offer distinct living experiences. Houston is significantly larger, spanning 665 square miles versus Atlanta's 136. Weather-wise, Atlanta enjoys more sunny days and less rain, though Houston experiences four distinct seasons.
Economically, Atlanta boasts a diverse economy in medical tech, finance, TV, film, and education, while Houston is known for its energy, aerospace, biomedical, and health sectors. The cost of living is lower in Houston, especially housing, but Atlanta has a higher median household income.
Total total crime rates are higher in Atlanta, but Houston faces a higher violent crime rate. Traffic congestion is worse in Houston, with drivers spending 49 hours annually stuck in traffic, versus 37 hours in Atlanta traffic.
We'll get into these statistics more in-depth, but first, let's take a look at individual characteristics via their pros and cons.
And if you need help moving to or from Atlanta, call our team at 404-635-6683 for a free quote!
Pros & Cons of Living in Atlanta vs Houston
How do you choose between H-Town and A-Town? This guide to the biggest benefits and drawbacks of living in Houston versus Atlanta can help you decide!
We’ll first dig into the living in Atlanta pros and cons, compare them to the pros and cons of living in Houston, and then outline a few of their major differences to help you make a confident decision in your future home or even just a vacation spot!
Living in Atlanta Benefits
There's so many pros when it comes to the city of Atlanta:
Atlanta Has Tons of Unique Neighborhoods to Explore
When you compare and contrast Houston vs Houston, you’ll find Atlanta’s neighborhoods are more unique, and each has its own vibe, much like smaller cities. Downtown Atlanta is incredibly walkable and well-served by public transportation with an exciting nightlife.
Midtown is Atlanta’s art district with high-rises, historic buildings, and tons of highly-rated museums and theaters. In Morningside, you’ll find a walkable and close-knit community with a farmer’s market and lots of parks. There’s also Buford Highway, a culturally rich hot spot.
Atlanta’s nightlife is famous and part of the reason Atlanta is one of thebest cities for millennials and Gen Xers.
Atlanta Is Surrounded by Outdoor Recreation and Exciting Destinations
Atlanta’s BeltLine project is creating a huge network of multi-use trails connecting dozens of neighborhoods and the city boasts some of the most beautiful urban parks in the country.
The picturesque Piedmont Park by Midtown and downtown features dog parks, sports fields, an aquatics center, and a large community garden. Downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park is the city’s crown jewel and in the center of the entertainment district.
Another advantage of living in Atlanta is you’ll find plenty to do, with some of the other best cities in the greater Atlanta area to visit within a short drive.
Just north of Atlanta is the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, with scenic terrain along a 48-mile chain of riverfront parks for boating, fishing, paddling, river rafting, and hiking.
Within just one to two hours, you’ll find mountain climbing in Chattanooga, waterfalls in Toccoa Falls, canyon hikes in Georgia, and cultural attractions in Birmingham. You can be in the Blue Ridge Mountains within an hour or on the beach within four hours from downtown Atlanta!
By comparison, the Houston area is very flat, and there aren’t many places you can easily drive to. Houston is simply surrounded by more Texas! A negative of living in Houston is it takes more than two hours to drive to the next major metro area, Austin, or three or more hours to get to Atlanta or Dallas.
Atlanta Has a Stronger and More Diverse Economy
A perk of living in Atlanta versus Houston is Atlanta’s more diverse economy. While the Houston economy is diversifying, it may not be fast enough as it’s still dominated by oil and not prepared for an oil bust.
Atlanta has the country’s highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies and it’s one of the world’s largest economies. It recently reached an all-time low for unemployment which is lower than Houston’s. Atlanta’s economy is expected to outpace Houston’s with stronger job growth.
Living in Atlanta Cons
Let's explore the cons of living in Atlanta:
Atlanta Summers Can Be Brutal
Houston and Atlanta are both known for their hot summers, but Atlanta takes it a step further. Is Atlanta more humid than Houston? It’s a close race, but Atlanta does tend to get more humid than Houston. Summers can be oppressive, with humidity that has you struggling to breathe and temperatures regularly exceeding 90 or even 100 degrees.
Allergies & Pollen Season
Atlanta is notorious for its intense pollen season, with some of the highest pollen counts in the country. Our movers often mention how challenging it is to deal with the thick yellow pollen that covers everything in the spring, making it tough for anyone with allergies. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you might find Atlanta's pollen season to be a significant downside.
High Property Taxes
One downside to living in Atlanta is its relatively high property taxes, with the total millage rate reaching around 31.400 for Fulton County property taxes and 32.329 for DeKalb County. This means homeowners in Atlanta often face higher tax bills compared to other areas, affecting the cost of living which is something to consider.
Living in Houston Benefits
Houston Is Incredibly Diverse
Houston has been ranked the most diverse city in America, just ahead of New York City and Los Angeles! The Bayou City’s racial and ethnic composition is 49% white, 37% Hispanic, 25% Black or African American, 5% Asian, and 16% from other races. It’s been a majority-minority city since 1990. Major foreign languages spoken in Houston include Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, indigenous African languages, and Urdu. Houston has America's second-largest foreign-born population and the country’s third-largest Vietnamese population!
This diversity brings many cultures, cuisines, and ideas together into the melting pot that is Houston.
The Food Scene in Houston Is Amazing
Houston has been called the next culinary capital of America with a diverse food scene that’s made it a top destination for foodies. What makes Houston’s dining scene so exciting? It’s a direct result of Houston’s cultural diversity and large population of immigrants from around the world. H-Town offers everything from the Southern comfort food you crave to high-concept eateries, authentic Mexican and Vietnamese cuisine, excellent food trucks, and mind-blowing fusion cuisine. Where else will you find Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish?
Houston Is a Great Place to Live for Energy, Medical, and Aerospace Jobs
Energy, particularly oil and gas, is the largest industry in Houston, but the city also offers a huge amount of aerospace, medical, and even tech jobs. You’ll find that living in Houston is a huge advantage if you are in the medical field or a scientist or engineer. Houston has the world’s largest medical center, the Texas Medical Center. This two-square-mile medical district is home to 61 institutions, including the largest cancer hospital and largest children’s hospital in the world.
Living in Houston Cons
Let's take a look at some of the drawbacks of living in Houston:
Houston Has a Flat Terrain Without the Beautiful Scenery of Atlanta
One of the major drawbacks of living in Houston is you’ll miss the hills, mature trees, and beautiful outdoors of Atlanta. Houston is a very flat city with no hills, let alone the mountains surrounding Metro Atlanta. You may find that Houston feels very utilitarian, with a lot of undeveloped land and boring commercial space.
Living in Houston Comes With the Risk of Hurricanes and Flooding
Flooding is a major problem in Houston and it only seems to be getting worse. Despite its extensive bayou system, Houston’s sprawl and concrete has made water collection and drainage an issue. About 30% of all properties in Houston are at risk of being flooded according to the Flood Factor. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 showed just how unprepared Houston is for flooding, although the city has been investing in new infrastructure.
One of the cons of living in Houston is you’ll definitely want to invest in flood insurance, even if you do not live in a high-risk flood zone. After all, 75% of homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey were outside the flood zone, and most homeowners did not have coverage.
Houston Has a Lot of Urban Sprawl and Low Population Density
As they say, everything’s bigger in Texas, including the sprawl. One of the negatives of living in Houston is dealing with the substantial urban sprawl. Houston covers 627 square miles, and its size isn’t limited by mountains, rivers, or lakes. Developers chose to build outward rather than upward. They can practically build anywhere they want with loose land use rules and no zoning laws. There are also new developments constantly going up. This makes Houston time-consuming to navigate and very car-dependent.
When you compare the pros and cons of Houston vs Atlanta, you’ll find less sprawl, more densely populated areas, and greater walkability in many of the core neighborhoods of Atlanta.
Cost of Living in Atlanta Versus Houston
The Atlanta cost of living is very affordable for a major city, but it still doesn’t compare to Houston! According to the cost of living index, Atlanta is about 5% more expensive than other cities, while Houston is about 6% more affordable.
This makes Houston about 11% cheaper than Atlanta overall!
Here’s a quick look at the differences in the Atlanta vs Houston cost of living cost of living.
Healthcare is 9.9% lower in Houston vs Atlanta
Rent is 28% lower in Houston vs Atlanta
Groceries are 2.3% more expensive in Atlanta than Houston
Utilities are actually 23.2% more expensive in Houston vs Atlanta
The median home price in Houston is $349,000, less than the national average. By comparison, expect a median home price of $434,000 in Atlanta. Average rent is $1,342 in Houston versus Atlanta average rent of $1,797, according to RentCafe.
Additional Houston TX vs Atlanta GA Comparisons
Population of Atlanta vs Houston
Houston and Atlanta are both major cities, but Houston dwarfs Atlanta in population and size. The population of Houston is 2.3 million within 637 square miles compared to 500,000 in Atlanta within 134 square miles. The metro populations are closer: 7 million for metro Houston vs Atlanta’s metro population of 5.9 million. That means the city of Houston is almost five times larger than Atlanta.
Of course, that isn’t the whole story. Atlanta is more densely populated than the city of Houston, but the metro area of Houston is twice as densely populated as Atlanta’s. So while both are big cities, they each have distinct characteristics when it comes to population distribution and urban sprawl.
Crime in Atlanta Versus Houston
Is Atlanta more dangerous than Houston? If safety is a concern, you’ll definitely want to know how Atlanta and Houston compare on crime. The Atlanta crime rate is 118% above the national average, while Houston has 117% more crime than the national average.
However, Houston has more violent crime than Atlanta.
To paint this picture, according to the FBI, there are 1,026 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Houston compared to 769 per 100,000 residents in Atlanta.
Atlanta vs Houston Traffic
When you look at traffic in Atlanta compared to Houston, you’ll be surprised to find they’re very similar – the worst in the country. Atlanta and Houston both have among the worst traffic in the world and the longest commutes in the United States. Houston drivers have the 3rd longest commute in the U.S. and spend 49 hours a year stuck in traffic, while Atlanta ranked 8th with 37 hours a year spent in traffic.
Both Houston and Atlanta have public transportation, but they definitely have their limitations. Houston’s METRO light rail system spans just 23 miles with three lines and mostly serves the core downtown neighborhoods. By comparison, Atlanta’s MARTA system has almost 48 miles of heavy rail line. In both cities, you’ll be mostly car-dependent unless you’re living in a handful of communities, but Atlanta’s public transit is more robust.
Sports in Atlanta Versus Houston
Which city is better for sports, Atlanta or Houston? Houston probably comes out ahead. Atlanta is one of only 14 cities with at least four major sports teams, and it’s sometimes called the “worst-best sports town.”
Houston is home to several major league sports teams: Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Rockets (NBA), Houston Texans (NFL), and Houston Dynamo FC (MLS). Atlanta is home to the Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Atlanta Falcons (NFL), and Atlanta United FC (MLS).
Distance Between Atlanta and Houston
What is the distance between Atlanta Georgia, and Houston Texas? About 793 miles or 11.5 hours along I-10. Here’s how to get from Atlanta to Houston, TX.
Of course, you’ll probably just end up flying instead of driving. Houston is served by the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), while Atlanta is served by the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the busiest airport in the world with nonstop service to 160+ destinations!
Atlanta Versus Houston: Where Are You Going to Live?
Now that you have a good idea of what each city has to offer, which one sounds like your new home? Are you interested in the lower cost of living in Houston with energy and medical jobs, or do you prefer the City in the Forest with exciting nightlife and outdoor recreation?
If you have settled on relocating to Atlanta, call Wirks Moving & Storage to deliver the seamless, stress-free moving day you deserve. Call our Atlanta movers today at 404-635-6683 to discuss your relocation and request a free moving quote!
Eric Wirks
Eric Wirks started out in the moving industry over 16 years ago and after gaining in depth expertise in all industry related areas, went on to found Wirks Moving & Storage in 2009. Under Eric’s expert tutelage Wirks Moving & Storage has since serviced over 10,000 moves and kept their customers very happy, proven by a 98% customer referral rate.
