Is New York or Texas a better state to live in?

Based on our composite scoring, New York ranks higher overall. New York is #26 and Texas is #35 out of 50 states. New York wins 8 of 11 categories, while Texas wins 3.

How does New York compare to Texas in cost of living?

New York has a cost of living index of 108, while Texas's is 97 (100 = national average). Texas is more affordable.

Which state is safer, New York or Texas?

New York has 364 violent crimes per 100K residents, vs 401 in Texas. New York has the lower crime rate.

What are the median incomes in New York vs Texas?

New York's median household income is $81,386, compared to $73,035 in Texas.

New York vs Texas: Side-by-Side (2026)

New York

#26·Northeast

56.8Composite Score

VSNew York leads

Texas

#35·South

45.9Composite Score

8NY wins

3TX wins

Category Overlay

New YorkTexas

Category Scores

💰 EconomyNY +4.1

43.7

39.6

🛡️ SafetyNY +4.9

58.1

53.2

🏥 HealthNY +55.1

73.5

18.4

🎓 EducationNY +26.5

59.2

32.7

💼 Fiscal HealthTX +27.7

44.5

72.2

📈 GrowthTX +40.9

19.9

60.8

🏠 AffordabilityTX +40.4

35.4

75.8

🌿 EnvironmentNY +17.6

58.4

40.8

🏞️ Outdoor AccessNY +25.5

30.2

4.7

🚇 TransportationNY +21.5

58.3

36.8

🎭 LivabilityNY +27.4

55.1

27.7

Key Metrics Comparison

Metric	New York	Texas	Winner
Population	19,571,216	30,503,301	TX
Median Income	$81,386	$73,035	NY
Unemployment	4.5%	4.2%	TX
Violent Crime Rate(per 100K)	364	401	NY
Cost of Living(100 = national avg)	108	97	TX
HS Graduation Rate	85%	90%	TX
Life Expectancy	79.1 yr	77 yr	NY
Pop Growth	+0.4%	+1.7%	TX

New York vs Texas: How Do They Compare?

New York ranks #26 overall with a composite score of 56.8, earning a B grade. Texas sits at #35 with 45.9 and a C grade. New York has the edge overall, winning 8 of 11 categories.

On the economic front, New York has 4.5% unemployment and a $81,386 median income, while Texas reports 4.2% unemployment and $73,035 median income.

For safety, New York's violent crime rate is 364 per 100K compared to 401 in Texas. Cost of living favors Texas with an index of 97 vs 108.

Explore These States

New York Full Profile56.8 Texas Full Profile45.9 Compare Other States→

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022