Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Spring Valley to Houston
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Spring Valley, NV has a higher median household income ($74,511) and median home value ($433,800) than Houston, TX ($64,813 and $277,800), but also higher median gross rent ($1,743 vs $1,361). Spring Valley’s shorter commute (24 min vs 30 min) and Texas’s 0% state income tax (per calculator assumption) create a trade-off: Spring Valley offers higher earnings and home equity but higher housing costs, while Houston provides lower housing expenses and no state income tax despite longer commutes and lower income.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → Spring ValleyMoving from Spring Valley to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$382/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$4,584/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 VERDICTSPR → HOU
66/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$16,968after 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 $4,584 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.
Spring Valley household income$74,511
Houston household income$64,813
Spring Valley gross rent$1,743
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Spring Valley | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 219,187 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $74,511 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,743 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $433,800 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 24 minutes in Spring 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
- Higher median income in Spring Valley
- Lower median gross rent in Houston
- Shorter commute time in Spring Valley
- Zero state income tax assumption for Houston
What each city wins
Spring Valley
Median rent at 28% of income suggests moderate affordability.. Watch higher home values may offset rent affordability for buyers..
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
Which city has higher housing costs relative to income?
Spring Valley has a higher median gross rent ($1,743) compared to Houston ($1,361), and while Spring Valley also has a higher median income, the rent-to-income ratio is approximately 28% in Spring Valley versus 25% in Houston, indicating relatively higher housing cost burden in Spring Valley.
How does commute time affect the overall livability comparison between the two cities?
Spring Valley’s average one-way commute is 24 minutes, which is 6 minutes shorter than Houston’s 30-minute commute, potentially offering residents more daily time for personal or family activities, though this benefit must be weighed against higher housing costs and the absence of state income tax in Houston.
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.