Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Petersburg to Houston
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows St. Petersburg has higher median income ($75,192) and home value ($371,100) than Houston ($64,813 income, $277,800 home value), but also higher median rent ($1,663 vs $1,361). St. Petersburg’s shorter commute (27 vs 30 minutes) partially offsets its higher housing costs, while both cities share the same uniform non-housing baseline and Texas’s 0% modeled state income tax (not actual liability).
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → St. PetersburgMoving from St. Petersburg to Houston
Median Rent Impact
-$302/mo
Moving to Houston saves ~$3,624/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 VERDICTSTP → HOU
66/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$16,008after 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 $3,624 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. Petersburg household income$75,192
Houston household income$64,813
St. Petersburg gross rent$1,663
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Petersburg | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 262,732 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $75,192 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,663 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $371,100 | $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 St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg
- Lower median rent in Houston
- Shorter average commute in St. Petersburg
- Identical modeled state income tax treatment
What each city wins
St. Petersburg
Median owner-occupied home value of $371,100.. Watch a 27-minute derived commute against citywide housing 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
Which city offers better housing affordability relative to income?
Houston has a more favorable rent-to-income ratio: median rent is 25.2% of median income versus St. Petersburg’s 26.6%, making housing relatively more affordable there despite lower incomes.
How does commute time affect the overall cost comparison between the two cities?
St. Petersburg’s 3-minute shorter commute reduces time-related costs, partially counterbalancing its higher rent; however, Houston’s lower rent still yields a net housing cost advantage when combined with income levels.
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.