Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Irvine to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Irvine shows significantly higher median household income ($136,719) and home values ($1,191,500) compared to Chicago ($77,902 income, $334,100 home value), but also substantially higher median gross rent ($2,997 vs $1,440). Irvine residents have a shorter estimated one-way commute (27 minutes) versus Chicago (36 minutes). While Illinois applies a flat 4.95% state individual income tax in the calculator model, California's state tax is excluded per profile boundaries and not factored here. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption applied equally to both cities. These figures reflect trade-offs between earnings, housing costs, commute times, and tax treatment, but no universal conclusion about overall affordability or quality of life can be drawn from these variables alone.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → IrvineMoving from Irvine to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$1,557/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$18,684/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
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 VERDICTIRV → CHI
72/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$25,524after 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 $18,684 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.
Irvine household income$136,719
Chicago household income$77,902
Irvine gross rent$2,997
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Irvine | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 311,690 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $136,719 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $2,997 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,191,500 | $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 27 minutes in Irvine 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
- Estimated one-way commute time
What each city wins
Irvine
Median rent is nearly triple the national average.. Watch high income offsets high housing costs, but discretionary savings may be limited..
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 Irvine and Chicago compare in housing costs relative to income?
Irvine's median gross rent is $2,997/month (26.3% of median income) and median home value is $1,191,500 (8.7x income), while Chicago's rent is $1,440/month (22.2% of income) and home value is $334,100 (4.3x income), based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What is the difference in estimated commute times between the two cities?
Irvine's derived one-way commute estimate is 27 minutes, compared to Chicago's 36 minutes, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303, resulting in a 9-minute shorter commute in Irvine.
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.