Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Paul to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, St. Paul has a higher median household income ($73,394 vs $64,813) and higher median home value ($294,500 vs $277,800) than Houston, but lower median gross rent ($1,281 vs $1,361). St. Paul also has a shorter estimated one-way commute (23 vs 30 minutes). Houston reports a 0.00% simplified state individual income-tax reference in the calculator, while St. Paul’s state tax is excluded per profile boundaries. These trade-offs reflect differing cost-of-living, earnings, and time allocation patterns.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → St. PaulMoving from St. Paul to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$80/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$960 more/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 VERDICTSTP → HOU
57/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$11,424after 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. Paul is about $960 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. Paul household income$73,394
Houston household income$64,813
St. Paul gross rent$1,281
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Paul | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 307,284 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $73,394 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,281 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $294,500 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in St. Paul 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 income in St. Paul supports greater housing affordability despite higher home values
- Lower median gross rent in St. Paul reduces monthly housing cost burden relative to Houston
- Shorter commute in St. Paul indicates better local job access or transit efficiency
- Tax treatment differs: Houston uses 0.00% state tax reference; St. Paul’s state tax is excluded per source
What each city wins
St. Paul
Mixed affordability. Watch rent vs income balance.
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 median household income according to the 2024 ACS?
St. Paul, Minnesota has a higher median household income at $73,394 compared to Houston, Texas at $64,813, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How do median gross rents compare between the two cities?
St. Paul’s median gross rent is $1,281 per month, which is $80 less than Houston’s $1,361 per month, according to the 2024 ACS 5-year data from Table B25064.
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.