Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Huntington Beach to Los Angeles
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Huntington Beach has a higher median household income ($120,919 vs $81,939) and higher median home value ($1,100,000 vs $921,200) than Los Angeles, but also higher median gross rent ($2,510 vs $1,933). Commute times are similar (31 vs 33 minutes). Los Angeles uses a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30% in its calculator, while Huntington Beach excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline is $1,250/month for both. This reflects a trade-off where Huntington Beach offers higher income and home values but higher housing costs, while Los Angeles has lower income and home values with a modeled tax assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → Huntington BeachMoving from Huntington Beach to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
-$577/mo
Moving to Los Angeles saves ~$6,924/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+2 min / day
Difference of ~17 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 VERDICTHUN → LAX
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$8,892after 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, Los Angeles is about $6,924 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.
Huntington Beach household income$120,919
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Huntington Beach gross rent$2,510
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Huntington Beach | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 195,240 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $120,919 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $2,510 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,100,000 | $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 31 minutes in Huntington Beach 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 owner-occupied home value
- State individual income-tax reference in calculator
What each city wins
Huntington Beach
Median home value is nine times median household income.. Watch high home values reflect strong demand but limit access for middle-income households despite relatively moderate rent burdens..
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 median household incomes compare between the two cities?
Huntington Beach has a 2024 ACS 5-year median household income of $120,919, which is $38,980 higher than Los Angeles's $81,939.
What is the difference in median gross rent between Huntington Beach and Los Angeles?
Huntington Beach's median gross rent is $2,510 per month, $577 more than Los Angeles's $1,933 per month according to 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
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.