Houston vs Phoenix
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Houston, TX | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $368K | $468K |
| Median single-family | $385K | $490K |
| Median condo | $179K | $290K |
| Median $/sq ft | $183 | $279 |
| Median days on market | 41 | 52 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 97.2% | 97.9% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 5,460 | 3,580 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 77,161 | 52,383 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Houston is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $368K versus $468K in Phoenix, roughly 21% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 5,460 square feet in Houston at the median price per square foot, versus about 3,580 in Phoenix. Houston homes have been moving faster, 41 median days on market versus 52 in Phoenix. Texas has no personal income tax. Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). In 2024 about 77,000 Californians moved to Texas and about 52,000 to Arizona (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Houston: None on wages (Texas has no personal income tax). Phoenix: 2.5% flat rate (tax year 2026). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Houston and moving from LA to Phoenix.
Common questions
Is Houston or Phoenix cheaper?
Houston had the lower median sale price, about $368K versus $468K in Phoenix (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 21% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Houston or Phoenix?
Houston has the lower state income tax. Texas has no personal income tax. By comparison, Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Houston vs Phoenix?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 5,460 square feet in Houston and 3,580 in Phoenix, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
