Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Santa Ana to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Santa Ana has a higher median household income ($93,999 vs $64,813) but significantly higher housing costs—median gross rent is $2,082/month versus $1,361 in Houston, and median home value is $713,000 compared to $277,800. Commute times are similar (27 vs 30 minutes). Houston benefits from a 0% state income tax assumption in the model, while Santa Ana’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off centers on income versus housing affordability, with no universal winner implied.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → Santa AnaMoving from Santa Ana to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$721/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$8,652/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.
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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 VERDICTSAN → HOU
71/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$21,036after 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 $8,652 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.
Santa Ana household income$93,999
Houston household income$64,813
Santa Ana gross rent$2,082
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Santa Ana | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 312,534 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $93,999 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $2,082 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $713,000 | $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 Santa Ana 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 model
What each city wins
Santa Ana
Median rent consumes over a quarter of median income.. Watch higher home values may reflect long-term equity but increase entry barriers..
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 Santa Ana and Houston?
Santa Ana’s median gross rent is $2,082 per month and median home value is $713,000, both substantially higher than Houston’s $1,361 rent and $277,800 home value, according to 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What role does income play in the cost-of-living comparison between the two cities?
Santa Ana’s median household income of $93,999 exceeds Houston’s $64,813, but higher housing costs in Santa Ana offset much of this advantage when evaluating overall affordability.
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.