Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Birmingham to Houston
Comparing Birmingham, Alabama, and Houston, Texas, using 2024 ACS data reveals distinct financial and lifestyle trade-offs. Birmingham offers a lower cost of living, with a median gross rent of $1,107 and a median home value of $158,800, alongside a shorter estimated one-way commute of 23 minutes. However, its median household income is $46,051. In contrast, Houston features a higher median household income of $64,813, paired with higher housing costs—a median gross rent of $1,361 and a median home value of $277,800—alongside a longer 30-minute commute and a 0.00% simplified state individual income-tax reference. Neither city emerges as a universal winner, as buyers must weigh Birmingham's affordability against Houston's higher earning potential.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → BirminghamMoving from Birmingham to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$254/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$3,048 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+7 min / day
Difference of ~58 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 VERDICTBIR → HOU
58/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$9,336after 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, Birmingham is about $3,048 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.
Birmingham household income$46,051
Houston household income$64,813
Birmingham gross rent$1,107
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Birmingham | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 198,173 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $46,051 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,107 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $158,800 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in Birmingham 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 differences
- Gross rent and home values
- Estimated one-way commute times
- State individual income tax references
What each city wins
Birmingham
A median owner-occupied home value of $158,800.. Watch lower median home values pair with a modest median household income of $46,051..
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 the populations of Birmingham and Houston compare in the 2024 ACS data?
According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Birmingham has a population of 198,173, while Houston is significantly larger with 2,328,253 residents.
What are the housing cost differences between Birmingham and Houston?
Birmingham's 2024 ACS median gross rent is $1,107 per month and the median home value is $158,800. Houston's median gross rent is higher at $1,361 per month, with a median home value of $277,800.
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.