Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Glendale to Chicago
Using 2024 ACS 5-year data, Glendale has a lower median income ($73,530) but higher median home value ($387,500) and rent ($1,528) than Chicago ($77,902 income, $334,100 home value, $1,440 rent). Glendale’s estimated commute is shorter (30 vs 36 minutes). Chicago applies a 4.95% state income tax in the model, while Glendale’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The uniform $1,250 non-housing baseline is a shared model assumption. These factors create a trade-off: Glendale offers shorter commutes but higher housing costs relative to income, while Chicago has lower housing costs and higher income but longer commutes and modeled tax impact.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → GlendaleMoving from Glendale to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$88/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$1,056/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+6 min / day
Difference of ~50 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 VERDICTGLE → CHI
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$7,896after 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 $1,056 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.
Glendale household income$73,530
Chicago household income$77,902
Glendale gross rent$1,528
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Glendale | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 252,833 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $73,530 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,528 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $387,500 | $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 30 minutes in Glendale 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 comparison
- Median gross rent and home value
- Estimated one-way commute time
- Modeled state individual income tax treatment
What each city wins
Glendale
Median rent consumes roughly a quarter of median income.. Watch lower housing cost burden may be offset by high non-housing essentials per model assumptions..
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 higher housing costs relative to income?
Glendale has higher median gross rent ($1,528) and home value ($387,500) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 value), despite Glendale’s lower median income ($73,530 vs $77,902), indicating a higher housing cost burden relative to earnings.
How do commute times and tax treatment differ between the cities?
Glendale’s estimated one-way commute is 30 minutes, shorter than Chicago’s 36 minutes. The model applies a 4.95% state income tax for Chicago but excludes state tax for Glendale due to lack of approved reference, per data boundaries.
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.