Colorado vs Texas

Side-by-side cost of living, income, housing and population. Calculator, charts and shareable results — official Census data.

Population, income, rent, home value and age for 2026. Shareable URL updates automatically.

Keep Your Standard — How Much There?

If you earn — in State A, what do you need in State B?

Need in State B
—
Difference
—
Verdict
—
Best Value — Most Affordable States
MS
Mississippi
~$52k income, $748 rent
Cheapest
WV
West Virginia
~$57k, $658 rent
Cheapest
AR
Arkansas
~$58k, $765 rent
Cheapest
AL
Alabama
~$62k, $846 rent
Cheapest

Lowest median home & rent, adjusted for income.

Population
Income & Housing
MetricColoradoTexasDifference (A−B)
Population
All residents
 5,810,774 29,640,343 HIGHER 23,829,569 (-80.4%)
Higher: Texas
Median Income
Household
 $92,470 HIGHER $76,292 +$16,178 (+21.2%)
Higher: Colorado
Median Rent
Gross rent
 $1,693 HIGHER $1,339 +$354 (+26.4%)
Higher: Colorado
Median Home Value
Owner-occupied
 $502,200 HIGHER $260,400 +$241,800 (+92.9%)
Higher: Colorado
Median Age
Years
 37.5 HIGHER 35.5 +2 (+5.6%)
Higher: Colorado
Living in Colorado: mountain lifestyle with a tech premium

Colorado blends aerospace, defense, software and outdoor recreation into one of the most educated workforces in the country. Denver and Boulder drive the job market, with Colorado Springs adding defense and Colorado Springs-area growth. Incomes run above average, especially in professional roles.

Housing along the Front Range has become expensive, and rents in Denver now rival coastal second-tier cities. Property taxes are relatively moderate, which softens ownership costs. People move here for the lifestyle math: higher pay than most interior states, plus mountains, if you can clear the housing bar.

Full Colorado profile →
Living in Texas: scale, jobs and no income tax

Texas operates at continental scale: energy in Houston, tech in Austin, finance in Dallas, logistics everywhere, plus military, healthcare and manufacturing. Job creation has led the nation for years and there is no state income tax.

The affordability edge has narrowed as Austin, Dallas and Houston housing climbed, though suburbs still beat coastal equivalents. Property taxes are steep and summer cooling bills real. Texas rewards strivers across industries — provided they price the property tax line before falling for the house prices.

Full Texas profile →
Verdict: Colorado vs Texas
  • Colorado earns more (median $92,470 vs $76,292).
  • Texas rents cheaper (median $1,339 vs $1,693).
  • Texas buys cheaper (median home $260,400 vs $502,200).
  • Texas takes it 2-1 across income, rent and home prices.
  • The widest gap is Median home value: Colorado at $502,200 vs Texas at $260,400.
View Colorado → View Texas →

Frequently asked questions

What data does this page show?

Compare cost of living, salaries, housing, rent, taxes and population between Colorado and Texas. Calculator, charts and side-by-side table — official Census data.

Colorado or Texas — which is cheaper?

Compare housing, rent, taxes and pay row by row in the table above.

What matters most when moving?

Housing cost first, then take-home pay after taxes, then rent and daily costs.

How current are the figures?

All figures reflect 2026 and update automatically from official sources.

Where do the numbers come from?

All figures are compiled from official U.S. government public data and refreshed automatically. LifeIndexData is 100% free to use and fully independent: we are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any bank, lender or financial institution, and advertising never influences our data or rankings.

How do I cite this page?

LifeIndexData. "Colorado vs Texas — Cost of Living Comparison (2026)" (2026). https://lifeindexdata.com/usa/compare/colorado/texas/

Is this financial advice?

No. All data is informational only — see our Disclaimer before making decisions.