Glasgow vs Houston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 9.4 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Houston wins on house prices with a 19% gap. Glasgow has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Houston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Glasgow
£186,692
Houston
£156,798
Crime Rate
Glasgow
85.2
Houston
2356.6
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Glasgow
86.3%
Houston
94.8%
Avg Download Speed
Glasgow
457.5
Houston
373.1
EPC Rating
Glasgow
63.3
Houston
56.2
Median Income
Glasgow
£33,083
Houston
£29,661
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandProperty in Glasgow commands an average of £186,692, compared with £156,798 in Houston – a difference of 19%. The most affordable entry point in Glasgow is a flat at £158,274, while in Houston it is a flat at £102,343.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 55% pricier in Glasgow (£158,274 vs £102,343).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Houston prices grew faster — 119% vs 109%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Glasgow experience less crime overall, with a rate of 85.2 per 1,000 versus 2,356.6 per 1,000 in Houston. The most common crime category in Glasgow is other-crime, while in Houston it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandFamilies may prefer Houston, where 94.8% of schools are in the top two inspection bands versus 86.3% in Glasgow. There are 192 schools in Glasgow and 63 in Houston.
Glasgow School Inspection Breakdown
86.3% of 192 schools (154 primary, 38 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Houston School Inspection Breakdown
94.8% of 63 schools (52 primary, 11 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Glasgow | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 192 | 63 |
| Primary | 154 | 52 |
| Secondary | 38 | 11 |
| % Top two bands | 86.3% | 94.8% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Average broadband speeds are 457.5 Mbps in Glasgow and 373.1 Mbps in Houston. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 96.6% of premises in Glasgow and 85.5% in Houston. Gigabit availability stands at 90.1% in Glasgow and 72.2% in Houston.
Glasgow is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (458 vs 373 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Glasgow, scoring 63.3 on average (band D) compared to 56.2 (band D) in Houston. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,643 in Glasgow and £1,371 in Houston. 50.8% of homes in Glasgow have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 43% in Houston.
Glasgow has more energy-efficient housing — 50.8% reach band C or above, vs 43% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £33,083 in Glasgow and £29,661 in Houston. The median age is 43.4 in Glasgow and 40.7 in Houston. Employment rates stand at 72.2% in Glasgow and 74% in Houston. Owner-occupancy is 60.3% in Glasgow versus 63.8% in Houston. Glasgow has a population of 985,290 and Houston has 6,430.
| Indicator | Glasgow | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 985,290 | 6,430 |
| Median Age | 43.4 | 40.7 |
| Median Household Income | £33,083 | £29,661 |
| Employment Rate | 72.2% | 74% |
| Owner Occupied | 60.3% | 63.8% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 29.6% | 22.3% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How far apart are Glasgow and Houston?
Which is cheaper to buy a house in, Glasgow or Houston?
Is Glasgow or Houston safer?
Which has better schools, Glasgow or Houston?
Which has faster broadband, Glasgow or Houston?
Keep exploring