Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Amarillo to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Amarillo has a slightly higher median household income ($65,912 vs $64,813) and significantly lower median gross rent ($1,092 vs $1,361) and home value ($196,900 vs $277,800) than Houston. Amarillo’s estimated one-way commute is shorter at 21 minutes compared to Houston’s 30 minutes. Both cities use the same uniform non-housing baseline ($1,250/month) and have no state individual income tax in the calculator’s simplified reference (0.00%), though this does not reflect actual tax liability. Amarillo offers better housing affordability and shorter commutes with marginally higher income, while Houston provides a larger urban scale at higher housing costs and longer travel times.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → AmarilloMoving from Amarillo to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$269/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$3,228 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+9 min / day
Difference of ~75 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTAMA → HOU
54/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$9,156after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainMedian owner-occupied home value of $277,800.
Watch closelyA citywide median income of $64,813 paired with a 30-minute derived commute.
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Amarillo is about $3,228 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Amarillo household income$65,912
Houston household income$64,813
Amarillo gross rent$1,092
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Amarillo | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 201,885 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $65,912 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,092 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $196,900 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Amarillo and 30 minutes in Houston. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median home value
- One-way commute time
What each city wins
Amarillo
Median rent is 20% of median income.. Watch lower home values may reflect fewer high-end amenities or slower appreciation..
Houston
Median owner-occupied home value of $277,800.. Watch a citywide median income of $64,813 paired with a 30-minute derived commute..
Frequently asked questions
Which city has lower housing costs relative to income?
Amarillo has lower median gross rent ($1,092) and home value ($196,900) than Houston ($1,361 rent, $277,800 value), despite a slightly higher median income, making it more affordable on a housing-cost-to-income basis.
How do commute times compare between the two cities?
Amarillo’s derived one-way commute estimate is 21 minutes, while Houston’s is 30 minutes, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303, indicating shorter average travel times in Amarillo.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.