Alton, TX vs Orange, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Orange, TX has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Alton, TX.

Alton, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / month
Orange, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,090 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Alton, TX and Orange, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $443/month in Orange, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,678 in Orange, TX

Regional cost estimates: Alton, TX uses Laredo, TX. Orange, TX uses Houston, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 3.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$443
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.3K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Alton, TX

Population:21K
Cost Index:
83.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$192K

Orange, TX

Population:19K
Cost Index:
81.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$217K

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Alton, TX

The Lone Star State

21K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 21K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Orange, TX

The Lone Star State

19K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 19K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Alton, TX vs Orange, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 7.5%
Alton, TX
$1,824
Orange, TX
$1,686
Difference
$137
less
Transportation
↓ 8.1%
Alton, TX
$1,504
Orange, TX
$1,383
Difference
$122
less
Groceries
↓ 9.6%
Alton, TX
$1,048
Orange, TX
$948
Difference
$100
less
Housing
↓ 5.0%
Alton, TX
$1,979
Orange, TX
$1,881
Difference
$97.98
less
All Utilities
↑ 1.4%
Alton, TX
$567
Orange, TX
$575
Difference
$7.76
more
Healthcare
↑ 1.0%
Alton, TX
$578
Orange, TX
$584
Difference
$6.05
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$830
To$880
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$840
To$890
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,050
To$1,090
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,360
To$1,440
↑ $80.00
Alton, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$840/mo

Orange, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $890–$890/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Alton, TX
$7,057
Monthly in Orange, TX
$443
Difference

Home Values

Alton
Orange
$192K
Median Value
$217K
↓ -0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +2.6%
↑ +38.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +7.7%

Homes in Orange are 13% more expensive than Alton

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Alton, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Orange, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Alton, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Orange, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Alton
Orange
45 Good
Air Quality
61 Moderate
57.7%
Good Air Days
13.7%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
151 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
151 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days

Before moving from Alton, TX to Orange, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Orange, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Alton, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Alton to Orange moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Orange, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Alton, TX vs Orange, TX

How do the cost estimates for Alton, TX and Orange, TX compare?

Orange, TX has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Alton, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Alton, TX, the model estimates $144,678 in Orange, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Alton, TX and Orange, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,050/month in Alton, TX and $1,090/month in Orange, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

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