Uprootmap
Gainesville vs Houston
Gainesville and Houston
Photo: Marc Mongenet / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Houston are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Gainesville to Houston
In 2022-2023, 27 households filed a move from Gainesville to Houston (about 40 people, average adjusted gross income $75,519). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,318 in Gainesville and $1,188 in Houston. Gainesville has a state tax on wages. Houston has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Houston is 102% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Gainesville.
Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Gainesville is 211 sunny days, 89°F in July, 36°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 28 in Gainesville.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 27 households moved Gainesville → Houston (about 40 people, average AGI $75,519). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Gainesville and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 891 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,550–$4,750
- Container or pod
- $1,800–$3,350
- Rent a truck
- $950–$1,750
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Dig into Houston
Questions
Is Houston cheaper than Gainesville after tax and rent?
Yes. Houston leaves about $447 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,318 in Gainesville and $1,188 in Houston.
Does Houston have state income tax?
Houston is in Texas, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Gainesville to Houston?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.