Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Montgomery to Houston
Montgomery and Houston are compared using 2024 ACS 5-year data. Montgomery has lower median income ($56,811) and rent ($1,089), with a shorter commute (22 min). Houston has higher income ($64,813) and rent ($1,361), with a longer commute (30 min). Both assume a $1,250 non-housing baseline and 0% state income tax in the calculator. The trade-off involves balancing income gains against higher housing costs and commute time in Houston versus lower costs and shorter commutes in Montgomery, with no universal winner declared.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → MontgomeryMoving from Montgomery to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$272/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$3,264 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+8 min / day
Difference of ~67 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 VERDICTMON → HOU
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$9,120after 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, Montgomery is about $3,264 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.
Montgomery household income$56,811
Houston household income$64,813
Montgomery gross rent$1,089
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Montgomery | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 197,494 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $56,811 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,089 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $161,900 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 22 minutes in Montgomery 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
- One-way commute time
- State income tax assumption
What each city wins
Montgomery
Median rent is below the model’s non-housing baseline.. Watch lower rent may reflect trade-offs in housing quality, age, or location within the city..
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 offers better affordability relative to income?
Montgomery shows a lower rent-to-income ratio at 23.0% compared to Houston’s 25.2%, indicating relatively more affordable housing costs despite lower absolute income.
How does commute time affect the overall trade-off between the two cities?
Houston’s 30-minute commute is 8 minutes longer than Montgomery’s 22-minute average, adding significant time cost that may offset some of its income advantage depending on individual valuation of time.
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.