Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Hialeah to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Hialeah has lower median income ($55,594) but higher median gross rent ($1,689) and home value ($392,000) than Chicago ($77,902 income, $1,440 rent, $334,100 home value). Hialeah’s shorter commute (32 min vs 36 min) offsets some cost burden, while Chicago’s higher income supports greater housing affordability despite longer travel times. Illinois applies a flat 4.95% state income tax in the model; Florida has no state individual income tax, though this is excluded from Hialeah’s profile per data constraints. The uniform non-housing baseline ($1,250/month) is a modeling assumption applied equally to both cities. Trade-offs involve income level, housing costs, commute duration, and tax treatment, with no universal winner due to differing household priorities.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → HialeahMoving from Hialeah to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$249/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$2,988/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.
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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 VERDICTHIA → CHI
63/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$9,828after 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 $2,988 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.
Hialeah household income$55,594
Chicago household income$77,902
Hialeah gross rent$1,689
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Hialeah | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 226,165 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $55,594 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,689 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $392,000 | $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 Hialeah 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
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Hialeah
Rent consumes over a third of median income.. Watch lower income levels constrain housing options despite moderate home values..
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
How do housing costs compare between Hialeah and Chicago relative to income?
Hialeah’s median gross rent is $1,689/month, 17% higher than Chicago’s $1,440, despite Hialeah’s median household income being 29% lower. Home values follow a similar pattern: Hialeah at $392,000 exceeds Chicago’s $334,100 by 17%, indicating higher housing costs relative to income in Hialeah.
What role does commute time and tax play in the cost-of-living comparison?
Hialeah workers have a 4-minute shorter average commute (32 vs 36 minutes), reducing time and transportation burden. Illinois applies a 4.95% flat state income tax in the model, while Florida has no state individual income tax—though this factor is excluded from Hialeah’s profile per current data restrictions, limiting direct tax comparison.
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.