Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Greensboro to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Houston has a higher median household income ($64,813 vs $61,515) and higher median gross rent ($1,361 vs $1,172) than Greensboro. Greensboro offers lower housing costs relative to income, while Houston provides greater income potential despite longer commutes (30 vs 23 minutes). Both cities use a uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month in the model, and Texas applies a 0.00% simplified state individual income-tax reference in the calculator, whereas North Carolina’s rate is excluded per current profile constraints. The trade-off centers on whether Houston’s income advantage offsets its higher housing and commute costs compared to Greensboro’s more affordable but lower-income profile.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → GreensboroMoving from Greensboro to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$189/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$2,268 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+7 min / day
Difference of ~58 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 VERDICTGRE → HOU
57/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$10,116after 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, Greensboro is about $2,268 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.
Greensboro household income$61,515
Houston household income$64,813
Greensboro gross rent$1,172
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Greensboro | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 301,198 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $61,515 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,172 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $244,800 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in Greensboro 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 in model
What each city wins
Greensboro
Citywide data. Watch rent 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 between the two cities relative to income?
Greensboro’s median gross rent is $189 lower monthly than Houston’s, while its median household income is $3,298 lower annually. This results in a more favorable rent-to-income ratio in Greensboro despite lower absolute earnings.
What role does commute time play in the livability trade-off between these cities?
Houston residents face a 7-minute longer average one-way commute than Greensboro residents, adding to time and transportation costs, which may offset some of Houston’s income advantage when evaluating overall affordability and quality of life.
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.