Compare any U.S. Census place · Official 2024 ACS data · Guarded AI analysis

Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS

Moving from Houston to Norfolk

Houston and Norfolk answer different parts of the relocation question. Norfolk has the lower default annual core-cost model, while the salary, excluded state-tax assumption, and rent-versus-buy choice can reverse that result. Use the citywide ACS figures as reference points, then replace them with the actual offer and housing quote.

Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta

Moving from Houston to Norfolk

⇄ Switch to NorfolkHouston
Median Rent Impact
-$40/mo

Moving to Norfolk saves ~$480/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.

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.

What matters most?

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 VERDICTHOUNOR
67/ 100

A close, nuanced move

Your modeled annual room improves.
Estimated annual life delta+$12,864after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Take-home$69,208$81,592
Core costs$31,332$30,852
Commute time39 hours gained
Best gainA median owner-occupied home value of $289,900.
Watch closelyA 25-minute derived commute against citywide medians.
See assumptions and methodology →
Advertisement

The short answer

In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Norfolk is about $480 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.

Houston household income$64,813
Norfolk household income$66,109
Houston gross rent$1,361
Norfolk gross rent$1,321

Housing, income, and tax reference

MetricHoustonNorfolk
2024 ACS population2,328,253233,596
Median household income$64,813$66,109
Median gross rent$1,361$1,321
Median owner-occupied home value$277,800$289,900
State-tax treatment0% simplifiedExcluded
Salary & Affordability Benchmark

How much do you need to earn to live in Norfolk?

2024 ACS Median Income

$66,109/yr

30% Rule for RentRecommended
$52,840 / year

To afford Norfolk's median gross rent of $1,321/mo at or below 30% of gross earnings, a household needs approximately $25.40/hour (full-time).

28% Rule for HomeownershipMedian Home
$73,500 / year

Modeled against Norfolk's median home benchmark of $289,900 (estimated $1,715/mo ownership carrying cost at typical 7.1% baseline).

Slide to test your income against local rent, taxes, and essentials.
$66,109gross/year
Affordability Status:Comfortable
Rent is 24% of gross income (31% of net pay)

At this income, median rent is only 24% of gross pay, leaving strong room for savings and essentials.

Monthly Budget AllocationEstimated Net Take-Home: $4,289/mo
Tax 22%
Rent 24%
Essentials 23%
Savings 31%
Taxes: $1,212/mo Rent: $1,321/mo Essentials: $1,250/mo Discretionary Margin: $1,718/mo

Time and daily routine

The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 30 minutes in Houston and 25 minutes in Norfolk. 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.

Advertisement

Decision checklist

  • Compare actual offers rather than city medians
  • Verify neighborhood housing against the citywide ACS benchmark
  • Treat renting and buying as separate decisions
  • Use the route-specific commute, not only the city estimate

What each city wins

Houston

Median owner-occupied home value of $277,800.. Watch a citywide median income of $64,813 paired with a 30-minute derived commute..

Norfolk

A median owner-occupied home value of $289,900.. Watch a 25-minute derived commute against citywide medians..

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.

Advertisement