Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Huntsville to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Huntsville has a higher median household income ($74,714 vs $64,813) and lower median gross rent ($1,171 vs $1,361) than Houston, resulting in a more favorable housing-cost-to-income ratio. However, Houston’s median home value is slightly lower ($277,800 vs $293,600), and its commute time is longer (30 vs 21 minutes). Both cities use the same uniform non-housing baseline ($1,250/month) in the model, and Texas applies a 0.00% simplified state income-tax reference in the calculator, while Alabama’s state tax is excluded per profile constraints. These factors create a trade-off where Huntsville offers better income and rental affordability, but Houston provides lower home prices and no modeled state income tax, with commute favoring Huntsville.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → HuntsvilleMoving from Huntsville to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$190/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$2,280 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+9 min / day
Difference of ~75 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 VERDICTHUN → HOU
54/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$10,104after 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, Huntsville is about $2,280 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.
Huntsville household income$74,714
Houston household income$64,813
Huntsville gross rent$1,171
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Huntsville | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 222,791 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $74,714 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,171 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $293,600 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Huntsville 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 household income in Huntsville
- Lower median gross rent in Huntsville
- Lower median home value in Houston
- Shorter average commute time in Huntsville
What each city wins
Huntsville
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at ~18.8%.. Watch lower rent burden may reflect trade-offs in housing size, age, or amenities..
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
Which city has a better balance of income and housing costs based on 2024 ACS data?
Huntsville shows a more favorable income-to-rent ratio with $74,714 median income and $1,171 median gross rent, compared to Houston’s $64,813 income and $1,361 rent, suggesting greater relative affordability for renters in Huntsville.
How do home values and commute times compare between the two cities?
Houston has a lower median owner-occupied home value at $277,800 versus Huntsville’s $293,600, but Huntsville residents have a shorter average one-way commute of 21 minutes compared to Houston’s 30 minutes, according to 2024 ACS 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.