Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Fontana to Houston
Fontana and Houston present contrasting 2024 ACS profiles: Fontana’s higher median income ($102,821) and home value ($586,800) reflect a premium housing market, while Houston’s lower income ($64,813) and home value ($277,800) suggest greater affordability. Fontana’s longer commute (35 min vs. 30 min) offsets some income advantage, and Texas’s 0% state income tax (per calculator assumption) enhances Houston’s net disposable income despite lower gross earnings. Rent is higher in Fontana ($1,839 vs. $1,361), further widening the housing cost gap. The trade-off centers on whether Fontana’s income premium justifies its elevated housing and commute burdens relative to Houston’s lower costs and tax advantage.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → FontanaMoving from Fontana to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$478/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$5,736/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
-5 min / day
Difference of ~42 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 VERDICTFON → HOU
70/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$18,120after 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 $5,736 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.
Fontana household income$102,821
Houston household income$64,813
Fontana gross rent$1,839
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Fontana | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 214,169 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $102,821 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,839 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $586,800 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 35 minutes in Fontana 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 disparity
- Median gross rent and home value gap
- One-way commute time difference
- State income tax assumption impact
What each city wins
Fontana
Rent consumes ~21.5% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden vs. high home values..
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 offers better housing affordability relative to income?
Houston shows stronger housing affordability with median gross rent at 25% of income versus Fontana’s 21%, though Fontana’s higher income partially offsets its higher absolute rent; home value-to-income ratios are 4.3x in Houston vs. 5.7x in Fontana, favoring Houston for purchase affordability.
How does commute time affect the income-housing trade-off between the two cities?
Fontana’s 5-minute longer commute reduces effective income advantage, especially when combined with 35% higher rent and 111% higher home values; Houston’s shorter commute and lower housing costs improve net time-and-money efficiency despite lower gross 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.