Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Glendale to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Glendale, CA has a median household income of $88,393 and median home value of $1,102,300, while Houston, TX reports $64,813 income and $277,800 home value. Both cities show a 30-minute average one-way commute. Glendale’s higher income aligns with significantly elevated housing costs, whereas Houston offers lower income but substantially more affordable homeownership. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month applies equally, and Texas’s 0.00% modeled state income tax (per calculator assumption) contrasts with California’s excluded but typically higher rate, creating a trade-off where Glendale demands higher earnings for costlier housing, while Houston provides lower entry costs despite lower income, with commute times equivalent.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → GlendaleMoving from Glendale to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$821/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$9,852/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
75/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$22,236after 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 $9,852 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$88,393
Houston household income$64,813
Glendale gross rent$2,182
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Glendale | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 190,748 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $88,393 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $2,182 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,102,300 | $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 home value
- Median gross rent
- Modeled state income tax impact
What each city wins
Glendale
Median rent consumes nearly 30% of median income.. Watch high home values reflect strong demand but limit entry for moderate-income buyers..
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 Glendale and Houston relative to income?
Glendale’s median home value is nearly four times Houston’s, while its median income is only about 36% higher, indicating a much steeper housing-cost-to-income ratio in Glendale despite higher earnings.
What role does commute time play in the livability comparison between these cities?
Both cities share an identical estimated 30-minute one-way commute, meaning transit time does not differentiate them; trade-offs must be evaluated through income, housing costs, and tax considerations instead.
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.