Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Buffalo to Houston
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Buffalo has lower median income ($50,041) and rent ($1,046) than Houston ($64,813 income, $1,361 rent), but Buffalo’s shorter 22-minute commute offsets some cost burden. Houston’s higher income supports its higher housing costs despite a 30-minute commute. Both use the same $1,250 non-housing baseline; Texas’s 0% modeled state income tax (not actual liability) contrasts with Buffalo’s excluded state tax, which is not inferred. Neither city’s data implies safety, schools, or job quality.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → BuffaloMoving from Buffalo to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$315/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$3,780 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+8 min / day
Difference of ~67 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 VERDICTBUF → HOU
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$8,604after 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, Buffalo is about $3,780 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.
Buffalo household income$50,041
Houston household income$64,813
Buffalo gross rent$1,046
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Buffalo | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 276,854 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $50,041 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $164,200 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 22 minutes in Buffalo 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
- One-way commute time
- Modeled state income tax treatment
What each city wins
Buffalo
Affordability uncertain. Watch housing costs vs income.
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 housing costs compare relative to income in each city?
In Buffalo, median rent is about 25% of median income; in Houston, it's roughly 25% as well, indicating similar rent-to-income ratios despite different absolute values.
Does commute time significantly affect the cost-of-living balance between the two cities?
Buffalo’s 8-minute shorter commute reduces time-related costs, partially compensating for its lower income, while Houston’s longer commute adds burden despite higher earnings.
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.