Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Newark to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Houston has a higher median household income ($64,813) than Newark ($52,060), but Newark’s median gross rent ($1,392) is slightly above Houston’s ($1,361). Newark’s median home value ($373,700) significantly exceeds Houston’s ($277,800), reflecting differing housing markets. Commute times favor Houston at 30 minutes versus Newark’s 36 minutes. Texas applies a 0.00% state individual income tax in the model, while New Jersey’s rate is excluded per source boundaries. These factors create a trade-off: Houston offers higher income and lower home values with shorter commutes, while Newark has marginally higher rents and longer commutes despite lower income, with no tax rate applied in the model for either city’s comparison.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → NewarkMoving from Newark to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$31/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$372/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
-6 min / day
Difference of ~50 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 VERDICTNEW → HOU
70/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$12,756after 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 $372 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.
Newark household income$52,060
Houston household income$64,813
Newark gross rent$1,392
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Newark | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 310,178 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $52,060 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,392 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $373,700 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 36 minutes in Newark 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
What each city wins
Newark
High rent burden. Watch rent vs income balance.
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 Newark and Houston?
Newark’s median gross rent is $1,392 per month, slightly higher than Houston’s $1,361. However, Newark’s median home value is $373,700, substantially above Houston’s $277,800, indicating differing affordability dynamics for renters versus owners.
What role does commute time and tax play in the city comparison?
Houston’s average one-way commute is 30 minutes, shorter than Newark’s 36 minutes. The model applies a 0.00% state individual income tax for Houston, while Newark’s state tax is excluded per source boundaries and not factored into the comparison.
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.