Texas is the second largest state in the U.S. Look up safety scores and crime statistics for ZIP codes across Texas including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Click any ZIP code to see the full safety report.
Texas is the second-largest state by both area and population, encompassing wildly different regional economies and safety landscapes. The state's major metros — Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin — each have distinct crime patterns shaped by rapid suburban growth, while smaller cities and rural areas tend to show different trends entirely. Texas's lack of statewide zoning regulation has led to some of the most sprawling metro areas in the country, which often correlates with wide safety score variation even between neighboring ZIP codes.
Because Texas cities have grown so quickly over the past two decades, many of the newest suburban ZIP codes on the edges of Houston, Dallas, and Austin tend to show stronger safety profiles than older urban cores. When researching a move within Texas, it's worth comparing several nearby ZIP codes rather than relying on city-wide reputation alone.
Crime is only part of the equation in a state this size — the bigger differentiator between Texas regions is often which natural hazard you're signing up for, not just a safety score. Gulf Coast metros carry hurricane and flood exposure most of the country doesn't deal with, North Texas sits at the edge of Tornado Alley, and the Hill Country around Austin is prone to fast-moving flash floods because of its terrain. Those risks show up in homeowners insurance costs too — Texas premiums are among the highest in the country, driven largely by hail and hurricane claims along the coast.
Texas has no state income tax, which is a real factor in relocation math, but property tax rates run well above the national average to make up for it. If you're comparing Texas against a move from a state with income tax, the actual cost of living can look different than the "no income tax" headline suggests — our income calculator below breaks down what you'd actually need to earn to live comfortably in a given ZIP code.
Hurricane and tropical storm season runs June through November. Houston in particular has flooded seriously multiple times in the last decade from both storms and heavy regional rainfall — flood zone matters as much as ZIP code here.
Sits at the southern edge of Tornado Alley. Severe thunderstorm and tornado season typically runs March through June, with hail being the more frequent (and expensive) event most years.
Known locally as Flash Flood Alley — the terrain funnels heavy rain into fast-rising creeks and low-water crossings. Fewer hurricanes than the coast, but flash flooding is a real and recurring risk.
Arid and sparsely populated, with wildfire risk climbing in dry years. Far less hurricane or tornado exposure than the rest of the state, but drought conditions are a persistent backdrop.
Crime score is one piece of the picture. These jump straight into hazard data for major Texas metros — swap the ZIP for your own once you're on the tool page.
Texas covers too much ground for a single answer. Safety varies dramatically between a ZIP code in suburban Sugar Land and one in downtown Houston, or between rural West Texas and central Dallas. Look up your specific ZIP code above for a real read, and pair it with hazard data — flood, wildfire, hurricane exposure — for the full picture.
Based on the ZIP-level data in this tool, suburban and exurban areas outside the major metro cores — places like Highland Park near Dallas, West Lake Hills near Austin, and Alamo Heights near San Antonio — tend to show stronger safety scores than the urban core. That pattern tracks with income and density more than anything unique to Texas itself.
Coastal and Gulf-adjacent metros, especially Houston, see significant flood risk from both tropical storms and heavy regional rainfall. Central Texas — Flash Flood Alley, around Austin and the Hill Country — is also prone to fast-moving flash floods because of the terrain. Check the flood tool for FEMA flood zone data on any specific ZIP code.
North and Central Texas sit at the southern edge of Tornado Alley, with severe storm season typically running March through June. Coastal and South Texas see fewer tornadoes but more hurricane exposure instead. Check the weather tool for current watches and warnings on a specific ZIP code.
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