Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Cincinnati to Los Angeles
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Los Angeles has higher median income ($81,939 vs $52,909) and home values ($921,200 vs $230,900) but also significantly higher rents ($1,933 vs $1,001) and longer commutes (33 vs 24 minutes). Cincinnati offers lower housing costs and shorter commutes despite lower income, while Los Angeles applies a 9.30% state income tax assumption in the model, affecting net affordability. The trade-off centers on whether higher earnings in LA offset its elevated housing and tax burdens compared to Cincinnati’s more modest but balanced profile.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → CincinnatiMoving from Cincinnati to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$932/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$11,184 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+9 min / day
Difference of ~75 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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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 VERDICTCIN → LAX
35/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$9,216after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Cincinnati is about $11,184 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.
Cincinnati household income$52,909
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Cincinnati gross rent$1,001
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Cincinnati | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 311,224 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $52,909 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,001 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $230,900 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 24 minutes in Cincinnati and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. 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 home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax assumption
What each city wins
Cincinnati
Median rent is 22.7% of median income.. Watch lower housing costs may be offset by higher non-housing expenses..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How does rent compare between Cincinnati and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a median gross rent of $1,933 per month, nearly double Cincinnati’s $1,001, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, reflecting substantially higher housing costs in LA despite its higher median income.
Which city has a longer commute, and by how much?
Los Angeles has a longer average one-way commute at 33 minutes, compared to Cincinnati’s 24 minutes, a 9-minute difference derived from 2024 ACS table B08303 weighted midpoints.
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.