Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Durham to Los Angeles
Based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, comparing Durham, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, California, reveals a distinct trade-off between housing affordability and municipal scale. Durham offers a smaller population of 291,467, a shorter estimated one-way commute of 24 minutes, and substantially lower housing costs, with a median gross rent of $1,508 and a median home value of $392,800, paired with a median household income of $81,619. Conversely, Los Angeles hosts a much larger population of 3,857,263, a longer 33-minute commute, and higher housing expenses, featuring a median gross rent of $1,933 and a median home value of $921,200, alongside a comparable median household income of $81,939. Additionally, Los Angeles incorporates a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30%, while Durham's profile excludes state tax data. Neither city serves as a universal winner.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → DurhamMoving from Durham to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$425/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$5,100 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 VERDICTDUR → LAX
40/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$3,132after 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, Durham is about $5,100 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.
Durham household income$81,619
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Durham gross rent$1,508
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Durham | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 291,467 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $81,619 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,508 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $392,800 | $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 Durham 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
- Lower median rent and home values in Durham
- Shorter estimated commute times in Durham
- Substantially larger population size in Los Angeles
- State income-tax reference included for Los Angeles
What each city wins
Durham
A median household income of $81,619 alongside a median home value of $392,800.. Watch a 24-minute derived commute estimate against citywide housing costs..
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 do the populations of Durham and Los Angeles compare?
According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Durham has a population of 291,467, whereas Los Angeles is significantly larger with 3,857,263 residents.
What are the differences in housing costs between Durham and Los Angeles?
The 2024 ACS data shows that Durham has a median gross rent of $1,508 and a median home value of $392,800, while Los Angeles has a median gross rent of $1,933 and a median home value of $921,200.
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.