Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Winston-Salem to Houston
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Winston-Salem has a lower median household income ($59,268) than Houston ($64,813), but also lower housing costs: median gross rent is $1,087 vs. $1,361 and median home value is $233,800 vs. $277,800. Winston-Salem’s derived one-way commute is shorter at 23 minutes compared to Houston’s 30 minutes. Houston applies a 0.00% simplified state individual income-tax reference in the calculator, while Winston-Salem’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. These factors create a trade-off where Winston-Salem offers lower housing costs and shorter commutes at the expense of lower income, whereas Houston provides higher income but higher housing costs and longer commutes, with no universal winner due to differing household priorities.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Houston → Winston-SalemMoving from Winston-Salem to Houston
Median Rent Impact
+$274/mo
Moving to Houston costs ~$3,288 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.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
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 VERDICTWIN → HOU
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$9,096after 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, Winston-Salem is about $3,288 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.
Winston-Salem household income$59,268
Houston household income$64,813
Winston-Salem gross rent$1,087
Houston gross rent$1,361
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Winston-Salem | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 252,037 | 2,328,253 |
| Median household income | $59,268 | $64,813 |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $1,361 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $233,800 | $277,800 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 0% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in Winston-Salem 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
- Derived one-way commute time
- State individual income-tax treatment in calculator
What each city wins
Winston-Salem
Median rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability thresholds.. Watch lower housing costs may reflect tradeoffs in income, job access, or neighborhood conditions not captured in citywide averages..
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?
Houston has higher median gross rent ($1,361) and median home value ($277,800) than Winston-Salem ($1,087 rent, $233,800 home value), despite Houston’s higher median income ($64,813 vs. $59,268), resulting in a higher housing-cost-to-income ratio in Houston.
How do commute times compare between the two cities?
Winston-Salem has a shorter derived one-way commute estimate of 23 minutes, while Houston’s is 30 minutes, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B0803, indicating less average travel time for workers in Winston-Salem.
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.