Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Irvine to New York
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Irvine shows significantly higher median household income ($136,719) and home values ($1,191,500) compared to New York City ($80,483 income, $777,600 home value), but also substantially higher median gross rent ($2,997 vs $1,821). Irvine residents have a shorter estimated one-way commute (27 minutes) versus NYC’s 44 minutes. While NYC applies a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 5.50% in the model, Irvine’s profile excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption applied equally. These figures reflect trade-offs in affordability, income, and commute time, but no universal conclusion about overall livability is drawn.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → IrvineMoving from Irvine to New York
Median Rent Impact
-$1,176/mo
Moving to New York saves ~$14,112/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+17 min / day
Difference of ~142 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 → NYC
60/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$20,336after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, New York is about $14,112 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
New York household income$80,483
Irvine gross rent$2,997
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Irvine | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 311,690 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $136,719 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $2,997 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,191,500 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 27 minutes in Irvine and 44 minutes in New York. 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..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How does Irvine’s median household income compare to New York City’s?
Irvine’s median household income is $136,719, which is substantially higher than New York City’s $80,483 according to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What is the difference in median gross rent between the two cities?
Irvine’s median gross rent is $2,997 per month, while New York City’s is $1,821, making Irvine’s rent $1,176 higher monthly based on 2024 ACS data.
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.