Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Louis to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, St. Louis has a lower median household income ($56,160) and lower housing costs (median gross rent $997, median home value $197,500) compared to Houston ($64,813 income, $1,361 rent, $277,800 home value). St. Louis also has a shorter estimated one-way commute (24 minutes vs. 30 minutes). Houston reports a 0.00% simplified state individual income tax in the calculator, while St. Louis’s state tax is excluded per profile boundaries. The trade-off involves Houston’s higher income and tax offset against higher housing costs and longer commute, versus St. Louis’s lower income but more affordable housing and shorter commute.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → St. LouisMoving from St. Louis to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$364/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$4,368 more/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 VERDICTSTL → HOU
55/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$8,016after 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, St. Louis is about $4,368 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.
St. Louis household income$56,160
Houston household income$64,813
St. Louis gross rent$997
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Louis | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 288,512 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $56,160 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $997 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $197,500 | $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 St. Louis 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
- Estimated one-way commute time
What each city wins
St. Louis
Affordable options available. Watch rent vs owner-occupied costs.
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?
St. Louis has a median gross rent of $997 and median home value of $197,500, while Houston’s are $1,361 and $277,800 respectively, making housing significantly more affordable in St. Louis based on 2024 ACS data.
What is the difference in commute times between the cities?
St. Louis has a derived one-way commute estimate of 24 minutes, compared to Houston’s 30 minutes, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303.
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.