Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Anchorage to Houston
Comparing Anchorage, Alaska, and Houston, Texas, using 2024 ACS data reveals distinct trade-offs in population scale, household economics, and daily transit. Anchorage hosts an estimated population of 288,976 with a higher median household income of $103,284, alongside a median gross rent of $1,489 and a median home value of $395,900. Its derived one-way commute is shorter at 20 minutes. Conversely, Houston supports a much larger population of 2,328,253 with a median household income of $64,813, a median gross rent of $1,361, and a lower median home value of $277,800. Houston features a longer 30-minute derived commute and a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 0.00%, whereas Anchorage excludes state individual income tax data due to lack of approved official references.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → AnchorageMoving from Anchorage to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$128/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$1,536/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+10 min / day
Difference of ~83 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 VERDICTANC → HOU
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$13,920after 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, Houston is about $1,536 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.
Anchorage household income$103,284
Houston household income$64,813
Anchorage gross rent$1,489
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Anchorage | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 288,976 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $103,284 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,489 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $395,900 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 20 minutes in Anchorage 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
- Anchorage higher median household income
- Houston lower median home value
- Shorter commute duration in Anchorage
- Houston larger population scale
What each city wins
Anchorage
Median household income of $103,284.. Watch a 20-minute derived commute against citywide housing costs..
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
How do population sizes compare between Anchorage and Houston?
According to 2024 ACS estimates, Anchorage has a population of 288,976, while Houston is significantly larger with 2,328,253 residents.
What are the median housing costs in Anchorage versus Houston?
Anchorage records a median gross rent of $1,489 and a median home value of $395,900, compared to Houston's median gross rent of $1,361 and median home value of $277,800 based on 2024 ACS data.
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.