Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Cape Coral to Chicago
Both cities use 2024 ACS 5-year data. Cape Coral has higher median income ($78,104 vs $77,902) and home value ($373,500 vs $334,100) but higher rent ($1,858 vs $1,440) and shorter commute (32 vs 36 minutes). Chicago applies a 4.95% state income tax in calculations while Cape Coral excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline ($1,250/month) is identical for both. Trade-offs involve Cape Coral’s income and equity advantages versus Chicago’s lower rent and tax-inclusive modeling, with commute differences favoring Cape Coral slightly.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → Cape CoralMoving from Cape Coral to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$418/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$5,016/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+4 min / day
Difference of ~33 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
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 VERDICTCAP → CHI
62/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$11,856after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainMedian rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability benchmarks.
Watch closelyLower rent burden may reflect older housing stock or income distribution, not necessarily lower housing quality or availability.
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Chicago is about $5,016 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.
Cape Coral household income$78,104
Chicago household income$77,902
Cape Coral gross rent$1,858
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Cape Coral | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 215,536 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $78,104 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,858 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $373,500 | $334,100 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 4.95% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 32 minutes in Cape Coral and 36 minutes in Chicago. 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
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- Derived one-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Cape Coral
Median rent consumes ~28.5% of median income.. Watch lower home values may offset higher rent burdens for owners..
Chicago
Median rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability benchmarks.. Watch lower rent burden may reflect older housing stock or income distribution, not necessarily lower housing quality or availability..
Frequently asked questions
Which city has a higher median household income according to 2024 ACS?
Cape Coral has a slightly higher median household income at $78,104 compared to Chicago’s $77,902, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How does rent compare between the two cities in the 2024 ACS data?
Chicago has a lower median gross rent at $1,440 per month, while Cape Coral’s is higher at $1,858 per month, according to Table B25064 of the 2024 ACS 5-year survey.
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.