Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Moreno Valley to Houston
The 2024 ACS 5-year data reveals Moreno Valley has higher income ($93,222) and home values ($503,700) but significantly higher rents ($2,135) and longer commutes (38 min) than Houston ($64,813 income, $277,800 home value, $1,361 rent, 30 min commute). Houston has no state income tax per the calculator’s reference, while Moreno Valley’s state tax is excluded per profile rules. The uniform $1,250 non-housing baseline applies equally. This creates a trade-off: Moreno Valley offers greater earning potential and home equity but at higher housing and time costs; Houston provides lower housing burdens and shorter commutes with lower income, reflecting divergent affordability and lifestyle profiles without implying one is universally superior.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → Moreno ValleyMoving from Moreno Valley to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$774/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$9,288/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.
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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 VERDICTMOR → HOU
78/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$21,672after 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 $9,288 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.
Moreno Valley household income$93,222
Houston household income$64,813
Moreno Valley gross rent$2,135
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Moreno Valley | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 211,666 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $93,222 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $2,135 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $503,700 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 38 minutes in Moreno Valley 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
- One-way commute time
- State income tax treatment in calculator
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Moreno Valley
Rent-to-income ratio is 27.5%, below typical burden threshold.. Watch affordability varies by neighborhood; citywide data masks local disparities..
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 between Moreno Valley and Houston relative to income?
Moreno Valley’s median gross rent is 57% higher than Houston’s ($2,135 vs $1,361), while its median household income is 44% higher ($93,222 vs $64,813), indicating housing costs rise faster than income in Moreno Valley, reducing net affordability despite higher earnings.
What role does commute time play in the livability trade-off between these cities?
Moreno Valley’s average one-way commute is 8 minutes longer than Houston’s (38 vs 30 minutes), adding roughly 6.5 hours per month of travel time for a round-trip worker, which may offset income advantages through reduced personal time and increased transportation fatigue.
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.