Uprootmap
Midland vs Houston
Midland 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 Midland to Houston
In 2022-2023, 440 households filed a move from Midland to Houston (about 924 people, average adjusted gross income $160,564). 384 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,254 in Midland and $1,188 in Houston. Midland has no 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 108% in Midland.
Houston averages 204 sunny days, with July highs around 94°F and January nights around 45°F. Midland is 263 sunny days, 97°F in July, 35°F in January. Commutes average 29 minutes in Houston and 22 in Midland.
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, 440 households moved Midland → Houston (about 924 people, average AGI $160,564). 384 households went the other way.
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 Midland and Houston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 510 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,100–$3,950
- Container or pod
- $1,450–$2,700
- Rent a truck
- $650–$1,250
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Dig into Houston
Questions
Is Houston cheaper than Midland after tax and rent?
No. For one adult in a one-bedroom, the amount left over is about the same, so the cost of living is about the same. A one-bedroom is about $1,254 in Midland 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 Midland 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.