Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Glendale to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Glendale, AZ has a higher median household income ($73,530) and median home value ($387,500) than Houston, TX ($64,813 income, $277,800 home value), but also higher median gross rent ($1,528 vs $1,361). Both cities share the same derived one-way commute estimate of 30 minutes from ACS table B08303. Houston benefits from a 0.00% simplified state individual income-tax reference in the calculator, while Glendale’s state tax is excluded per profile constraints. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption applied equally. This creates a trade-off: Glendale offers higher income and home equity but higher housing costs; Houston offers lower income and home value but lower rent and a tax-advantaged calculator assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → GlendaleMoving from Glendale to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$167/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$2,004/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
Equal time
Both cities average the same one-way commute duration.
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 VERDICTGLE → HOU
66/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$14,388after 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 $2,004 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.
Glendale household income$73,530
Houston household income$64,813
Glendale gross rent$1,528
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Glendale | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 252,833 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $73,530 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,528 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $387,500 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 30 minutes in Glendale 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
- Median owner-occupied home value
- State individual income-tax treatment in calculator
What each city wins
Glendale
Median rent consumes roughly a quarter of median income.. Watch lower housing cost burden may be offset by high non-housing essentials per model assumptions..
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 has higher housing costs relative to income?
Glendale, AZ has a higher median gross rent ($1,528) compared to Houston, TX ($1,361), and while Glendale’s median income is also higher ($73,530 vs $64,813), the rent-to-income ratio is approximately 24.9% in Glendale versus 25.2% in Houston, making housing costs slightly more burdensome in Houston when measured this way.
How does the tax assumption affect the comparison between the two cities?
Houston uses a simplified 0.00% state individual income-tax reference in the calculator, which lowers the effective tax burden in the model, while Glendale’s state tax is deliberately excluded due to lack of approved reference, meaning no tax adjustment is applied for Glendale in this profile. This creates a modeled advantage for Houston in after-tax income calculations, though actual liability may differ.
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.