Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Austin vs Houston: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Austin, TX and Houston, TX for May 2026: Houston at a $368K median versus $570K in Austin, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Austin, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $570K ▲ +2.7% | $368K ▲ +8.2% |
| Days on market | 47 ▼ -2.1% | 41 ▲ +10.8% |
| Homes for sale | 4,942 ▼ -11.1% | 8,301 ▼ -12.1% |
| Sale-to-list | 97.7% ▲ +0.6% | 97.2% ▼ -0.1% |
| Months of supply | 5.1 ▼ -20.3% | 4.5 ▼ -2.2% |
| Homes sold | 960 ▲ +11.0% | 1,830 ▼ -11.3% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Houston is the more affordable of the two at a $367,750 median sale price, about 35% below Austin ($570,000). Houston is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 41 days versus 47 in Austin.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Austin offers a little more breathing room, with 5.1 months of supply against 4.5 in Houston, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Houston is the tighter market, with a 97.2% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, Houston is appreciating faster (+8.2% vs +2.7% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Austin's and Houston's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $368K median in Houston and a $570K median in Austin, against roughly $340K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Austin and Houston market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Austin or Houston more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Houston is the more affordable market at a $367,750 median sale price, about 35% below Austin ($570,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Austin or Houston?
- Houston moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 41 days, versus 47 days in Austin (May 2026).
- Is Austin or Houston better for buyers right now?
- Austin gives buyers a little more room, with 5.1 months of supply versus 4.5 in Houston. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Austin and Houston numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More Austin comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.