Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Huntington Beach to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Huntington Beach shows significantly higher median household income ($120,919) and home values ($1.1M) compared to Houston ($64,813 income, $277,800 home value), though Huntington Beach also has substantially higher median gross rent ($2,510 vs $1,361). Commute times are nearly identical (31 vs 30 minutes), and Houston benefits from a 0.00% modeled state individual income tax rate in the calculator while Huntington Beach's state tax is excluded per profile constraints. This creates a trade-off where Huntington Beach offers higher earnings potential but at much higher housing costs, while Houston provides lower income but more affordable housing and tax-advantaged conditions in the model.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → Huntington BeachMoving from Huntington Beach to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$1,149/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$13,788/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
-1 min / day
Difference of ~8 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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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 VERDICTHUN → HOU
77/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$26,172after 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 $13,788 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.
Huntington Beach household income$120,919
Houston household income$64,813
Huntington Beach gross rent$2,510
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Huntington Beach | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 195,240 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $120,919 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $2,510 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,100,000 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 31 minutes in Huntington Beach 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
- Higher median income in Huntington Beach
- Lower housing costs in Houston
- Comparable commute times between cities
- Tax treatment differences in calculator model
What each city wins
Huntington Beach
Median home value is nine times median household income.. Watch high home values reflect strong demand but limit access for middle-income households despite relatively moderate rent burdens..
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 relative to income in each city?
In Huntington Beach, median gross rent represents about 24.9% of median household income, while in Houston it represents approximately 25.2%, showing similar rent-to-income ratios despite different absolute values.
What explains the similarity in commute times despite different city sizes?
Despite Houston's much larger population, both cities show nearly identical median one-way commute times (31 vs 30 minutes), suggesting comparable transportation dynamics or land-use patterns affecting daily travel.
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.