Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Huntsville to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Phoenix has higher median income ($81,332 vs $74,714) and higher housing costs (rent $1,582 vs $1,171; home value $420,700 vs $293,600) than Huntsville. Phoenix also has a longer commute (28 vs 21 minutes) and applies a 2.50% state income tax in the model, while Huntsville’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off involves weighing Phoenix’s income advantage against its higher housing burden, longer commute, and tax cost relative to Huntsville’s more affordable housing and shorter commute but lower income.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → HuntsvilleMoving from Huntsville to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$411/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$4,932 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
+7 min / day
Difference of ~58 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 VERDICTHUN → PHX
51/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$4,652after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Huntsville is about $4,932 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.
Huntsville household income$74,714
Phoenix household income$81,332
Huntsville gross rent$1,171
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Huntsville | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 222,791 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $74,714 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,171 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $293,600 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Huntsville and 28 minutes in Phoenix. 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 in model
What each city wins
Huntsville
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at ~18.8%.. Watch lower rent burden may reflect trade-offs in housing size, age, or amenities..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has a higher median household income according to the 2024 ACS?
Phoenix, Arizona has a higher median household income at $81,332 compared to Huntsville, Alabama’s $74,714, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How do housing costs compare between the two cities using 2024 ACS data?
Phoenix has higher housing costs: median gross rent is $1,582 per month versus Huntsville’s $1,171, and median home value is $420,700 versus Huntsville’s $293,600, per Tables B25064 and B25077 of the 2024 ACS.
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.