Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Providence to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Providence has a higher median household income ($68,119 vs $64,813) and higher median home value ($362,200 vs $277,800) than Houston, but Houston has no state individual income tax in the calculator model while Providence’s tax status is excluded per data boundaries. Providence residents have a slightly shorter derived commute (27 vs 30 minutes). Houston’s median gross rent is lower ($1,361 vs $1,408), offering a modest housing cost advantage despite lower income. The trade-off involves weighing Providence’s income and home equity potential against Houston’s lower housing costs and tax-neutral calculator assumption, with commute times favoring Providence.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → ProvidenceMoving from Providence to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$47/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$564/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
+3 min / day
Difference of ~25 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 VERDICTPRO → HOU
63/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$12,948after 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 $564 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.
Providence household income$68,119
Houston household income$64,813
Providence gross rent$1,408
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Providence | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 191,767 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $68,119 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,408 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $362,200 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 27 minutes in Providence 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 favors Providence
- Median home value higher in Providence
- Median gross rent lower in Houston
- Derived commute shorter in Providence
What each city wins
Providence
Median rent consumes about 25% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden may be offset by higher non-housing costs or limited income growth..
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 the two cities?
Houston has a lower median gross rent at $1,361 per month compared to Providence’s $1,408, while Providence’s median owner-occupied home value is significantly higher at $362,200 versus Houston’s $277,800, reflecting different housing market dynamics.
What role does income and tax play in the comparison?
Providence reports a higher median household income ($68,119 vs $64,813), but the calculator excludes state individual income tax for Providence per data boundaries, while using a 0.00% simplified reference for Houston, which does not reflect actual tax liability.
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.