Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Chesapeake to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Chesapeake has a higher median household income ($95,373 vs $77,902) and higher median home value ($378,400 vs $334,100) than Chicago, but Chicago reports a lower median gross rent ($1,440 vs $1,586). Chesapeake’s derived one-way commute is shorter at 28 minutes compared to Chicago’s 36 minutes. Chicago applies a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 4.95% in the calculator, while Chesapeake’s state tax is excluded per profile boundaries. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption for both. These factors create a trade-off: Chesapeake offers higher income and shorter commutes but higher housing costs, while Chicago has lower income and longer commutes but relatively lower rents and a quantified tax reference in the model.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → ChesapeakeMoving from Chesapeake to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$146/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$1,752/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+8 min / day
Difference of ~67 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 VERDICTCHE → CHI
54/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$8,592after 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 $1,752 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.
Chesapeake household income$95,373
Chicago household income$77,902
Chesapeake gross rent$1,586
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Chesapeake | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 252,583 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $95,373 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,586 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $378,400 | $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 28 minutes in Chesapeake 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 reference in calculator
- Uniform non-housing calculator baseline
What each city wins
Chesapeake
Median rent consumes roughly 20% of median income.. Watch lower housing cost burden may come with longer commutes or fewer urban amenities..
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 the 2024 ACS?
Chesapeake has a higher median household income at $95,373 compared to Chicago’s $77,902, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How do the median gross rents compare between the two cities?
Chicago has a lower median gross rent of $1,440 per month, while Chesapeake’s is $1,586 per month, according to the 2024 ACS 5-year data in Table B25064.
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.