Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Augusta-Richmond County to New York
The 2024 ACS 5-year data reveals Augusta-Richmond County, GA has a median household income of $55,485, median gross rent of $1,142, and a 23-minute commute, while New York, NY reports $80,483 income, $1,821 rent, and a 44-minute commute. New York’s higher income partially offsets its elevated housing costs, but the rent-to-income ratio is significantly less favorable than in Augusta. Augusta’s lower income is paired with substantially more affordable housing and a shorter commute, improving residual income after housing. New York applies a modeled 5.50% state individual income tax in the calculator, reducing take-home pay, whereas Augusta’s tax rate is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off centers on whether New York’s income premium compensates for its higher housing burden and longer commute, or if Augusta’s lower costs and shorter commute yield better net livability despite lower earnings. Neither city dominates universally; the optimal choice depends on individual weighting of income, housing affordability, commute time, and tax exposure.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → Augusta-Richmond CountyMoving from Augusta-Richmond County to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$679/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$8,148 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+21 min / day
Difference of ~175 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTAUG → NYC
37/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$1,924after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Augusta-Richmond County is about $8,148 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Augusta-Richmond County household income$55,485
New York household income$80,483
Augusta-Richmond County gross rent$1,142
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 201,528 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $55,485 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,142 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $178,400 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in Augusta-Richmond County and 44 minutes in New York. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income vs. gross rent affordability
- One-way commute time and its impact on daily life
- Modeled state individual income tax effect on net earnings
- Residual income after housing and tax considerations
What each city wins
Augusta-Richmond County
Moderate home values. Watch rent vs owner-occupied costs.
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How does housing affordability compare between Augusta and New York when accounting for income?
Augusta’s median gross rent is $1,142 on a $55,485 income, resulting in a rent-to-income ratio of about 24.7%. New York’s $1,821 rent on $80,483 income yields a ratio of roughly 27.1%, indicating Augusta offers relatively better housing affordability despite lower absolute income.
What role does commute time play in the livability trade-off between these two cities?
Augusta’s 23-minute average commute is nearly half of New York’s 44 minutes, translating to over 4 hours less weekly travel time. This difference significantly affects disposable time and transportation costs, favoring Augusta for those prioritizing shorter commutes, all else equal.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.