Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Santa Clarita to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Santa Clarita has a median household income of $123,062 and median home value of $784,700, while Houston reports $64,813 income and $277,800 home value. Santa Clarita’s higher income aligns with elevated housing costs, but its 37-minute commute exceeds Houston’s 30-minute average. Houston’s 0% state income tax reference increases disposable income relative to Santa Clarita, where state tax is excluded per source boundaries. These factors create a trade-off: Santa Clarita offers greater income and home equity potential at higher housing and commute costs, whereas Houston provides lower housing burdens and tax-advantaged take-home pay despite lower median income.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → Santa ClaritaMoving from Santa Clarita to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$1,183/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$14,196/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
0.0% difference
Neither state imposes an individual state income tax.
Daily Commute Difference
-7 min / day
Difference of ~58 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
81/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$26,580after 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 $14,196 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 Clarita household income$123,062
Houston household income$64,813
Santa Clarita gross rent$2,544
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Santa Clarita | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 230,221 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $123,062 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $2,544 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $784,700 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 37 minutes in Santa Clarita 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 home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax treatment
What each city wins
Santa Clarita
Median rent consumes nearly a quarter of median income.. Watch higher incomes offset high housing costs, but rent burden remains notable..
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 relative to income in each city?
In Santa Clarita, median gross rent is $2,544/month (24.8% of income), while in Houston it is $1,361/month (25.2% of income). Despite Santa Clarita’s higher income, rent consumes a similar share of earnings, indicating comparable rent burden relative to local wages.
What is the trade-off between home value and commute time?
Santa Clarita’s median home value is $784,700 with a 37-minute commute, versus Houston’s $277,800 home value and 30-minute commute. Residents in Santa Clarita gain significantly more home equity but spend more time commuting, reflecting a location-based trade-off between housing wealth and time costs.
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.