Median rent is 14% lower in Austin ($1,655/mo vs $1,925/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $512,700 versus $538,000. Households earn more in Aspen Hill ($109,026 vs $91,461 a year).
City A
Aspen Hill, MD
City B
Austin, TX
How much would you need to earn in Austin, TX to maintain your standard of living from Aspen Hill, MD?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Aspen Hill
Maryland
Austin
Texas
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Austin at $1,655/mo compared to $1,925/mo in Aspen Hill (14% gap). Median home values are within 5% of each other: $538,000 in Aspen Hill and $512,700 in Austin.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Texas has no state income tax, while Maryland tops out at 5.75% — giving Austin a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 6.00% in Maryland and 6.25% in Texas; Aspen Hill has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Aspen Hill
Income tax: 5.75%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Austin
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.25%
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Aspen Hill.
Pick Aspen Hill if you prioritize higher median household income ($109,026/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,655/mo median).
Pick Austin if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Aspen Hill cheaper than Austin?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Aspen Hill vs Austin?
Median rent is $1,925/mo in Aspen Hill, MD and $1,655/mo in Austin, TX. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 14%.
Which has higher salaries — Aspen Hill or Austin?
Median household income is $109,026 in Aspen Hill, MD and $91,461 in Austin, TX. Aspen Hill, MD has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Aspen Hill or Austin?
Texas has no state income tax. Maryland has a top rate of 5.75%.
What salary do I need in Austin to match my Aspen Hill income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology