Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Hialeah to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Hialeah has lower median income ($55,594) but higher housing costs—median gross rent at $1,689 and owner-occupied home value at $392,000—compared to Houston’s $64,813 income, $1,361 rent, and $277,800 home value. Despite Houston’s higher income, its longer-term affordability may be challenged by rising costs, while Hialeah’s rent burden is significant relative to income. Commute times are similar (Hialeah: 32 min, Houston: 30 min), and Texas applies a 0.00% state income tax in the model, though this does not reflect actual liability. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a modeling assumption. Trade-offs involve income sufficiency, housing cost burden, and commute efficiency, with no universal winner due to differing household priorities.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → HialeahMoving from Hialeah to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$328/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$3,936/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
-2 min / day
Difference of ~17 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 VERDICTHIA → HOU
72/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$16,320after 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 $3,936 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.
Hialeah household income$55,594
Houston household income$64,813
Hialeah gross rent$1,689
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Hialeah | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 226,165 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $55,594 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,689 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $392,000 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 32 minutes in Hialeah 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 relative to local housing costs
- Median gross rent and owner-occupied home value levels
- One-way commute time derived from ACS travel patterns
- Modeled state income tax impact and non-housing expense baseline
What each city wins
Hialeah
Rent consumes over a third of median income.. Watch lower income levels constrain housing options despite moderate 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
How do housing costs compare between Hialeah and Houston relative to income?
Hialeah’s median gross rent of $1,689 represents a larger share of its $55,594 median income than Houston’s $1,361 rent does of its $64,813 income, indicating a higher rent burden in Hialeah despite lower absolute rent in Houston.
What role does commute time play in the livability comparison between the two cities?
Commute times are nearly identical—Hialeah at 32 minutes and Houston at 30 minutes—so neither city holds a meaningful advantage in transportation efficiency based on the 2024 ACS-derived estimates.
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.