Alvarado, TX vs South Houston, TX

Alvarado is moderately more affordable than South Houston, with a 7.3% lower cost of living index. Alvarado scores 79 compared to 85 for South Houston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of South Houston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alvarado is $854/month compared to $1,174/month in South Houston — a 27% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alvarado has cheaper rent, South Houston actually has lower median home values ($176,100 vs $206,800).

Median household income in Alvarado is $71,296 compared to $52,611 in South Houston (+35.5%). Alvarado offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Alvarado spend roughly 14.4% of their income on rent, less than the 26.8% in South Houston.