Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Madison to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Madison, WI has a higher median household income ($78,050) and median home value ($372,900) than Houston, TX ($64,813 and $277,800), but also higher median gross rent ($1,413 vs $1,361). Madison residents enjoy a shorter average one-way commute (21 minutes vs 30 minutes). Houston benefits from a 0.00% state individual income tax in the calculator’s simplified reference, while Wisconsin’s state tax is excluded per profile boundaries. These factors create a trade-off: Madison offers higher income and shorter commutes at higher housing costs, while Houston provides lower housing costs and no state income tax in the model, despite lower income and longer commutes.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → MadisonMoving from Madison to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$52/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$624/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.
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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 VERDICTMAD → HOU
58/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$13,008after 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 $624 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.
Madison household income$78,050
Houston household income$64,813
Madison gross rent$1,413
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Madison | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 278,001 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $78,050 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,413 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $372,900 | $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 Madison 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
- Median owner-occupied home value
- Derived one-way commute time
- State individual income tax reference in calculator
What each city wins
Madison
Median rent is 21.7% of median income.. Watch higher home values may reflect long-term equity potential despite monthly costs..
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 higher housing costs relative to income?
Madison has a higher median gross rent ($1,413) and median home value ($372,900) than Houston ($1,361 rent, $277,800 value), despite Madison’s higher income ($78,050 vs $64,813), indicating relatively higher housing costs in Madison.
How does commute time compare between the two cities?
Madison residents have a shorter average one-way commute of 21 minutes, while Houston residents average 30 minutes, based on 2024 ACS table B08303 weighted midpoints, making Madison’s commute 9 minutes shorter on average.
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.