Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Cincinnati to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Houston has higher median income ($64,813 vs $52,909) and higher median gross rent ($1,361 vs $1,001) than Cincinnati. Houston’s longer commute (30 vs 24 minutes) offsets some income advantage, while both cities share the same uniform non-housing cost baseline ($1,250/month). Texas applies a 0.00% state income tax in the model, whereas Ohio’s rate is excluded per source boundaries. These factors create a trade-off where Houston’s income gain is partially counterbalanced by higher housing costs and longer commute, with tax treatment differing by state assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → CincinnatiMoving from Cincinnati to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$360/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$4,320 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+6 min / day
Difference of ~50 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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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 VERDICTCIN → HOU
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$8,064after 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, Cincinnati is about $4,320 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.
Cincinnati household income$52,909
Houston household income$64,813
Cincinnati gross rent$1,001
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Cincinnati | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 311,224 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $52,909 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,001 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $230,900 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 24 minutes in Cincinnati 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
- State income tax treatment
What each city wins
Cincinnati
Median rent is 22.7% of median income.. Watch lower housing costs may be offset by higher non-housing expenses..
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 between the two cities?
Houston’s median gross rent is $1,361 per month, which is $360 higher than Cincinnati’s $1,001, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What role does commute time play in the comparison?
Houston’s average one-way commute is 30 minutes, 6 minutes longer than Cincinnati’s 24 minutes, derived from 2024 ACS table B08303 weighted midpoints.
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.