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Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS

Moving from Jersey City to New York

The 2024 ACS 5-year estimates reveal a clear structural trade-off between Jersey City and New York. Jersey City reports a higher median household income of $97,710 compared to New York's $80,483, alongside a slightly higher median gross rent of $2,007 versus New York's $1,821. Meanwhile, New York exhibits a substantially higher median owner-occupied home value at $777,600 compared to Jersey City's $566,900. Commute times are comparable, with Jersey City averaging 40 minutes and New York averaging 44 minutes. Additionally, New York incorporates a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 5.50%, while Jersey City's state individual income tax is deliberately excluded due to a lack of current official state reference approval. Neither citywide dataset addresses safety, schools, weather, insurance, or job quality.

Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta

Moving from Jersey City to New York

⇄ Switch to New YorkJersey City
Median Rent Impact
-$186/mo

Moving to New York saves ~$2,232/yr in rent.

State Tax Treatment
+5.5%

~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.

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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What matters most?

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 VERDICTJERNYC
56/ 100

A close, nuanced move

Your modeled annual room improves.
Estimated annual life delta+$8,456after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Take-home$69,208$75,432
Core costs$39,084$36,852
Commute time31 hours lost
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
See assumptions and methodology →
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The short answer

In the uniform one-person renting baseline, New York is about $2,232 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.

Jersey City household income$97,710
New York household income$80,483
Jersey City gross rent$2,007
New York gross rent$1,821

Housing, income, and tax reference

MetricJersey CityNew York
2024 ACS population294,0788,483,844
Median household income$97,710$80,483
Median gross rent$2,007$1,821
Median owner-occupied home value$566,900$777,600
State-tax treatmentExcluded5.5% simplified
Salary & Affordability Benchmark

How much do you need to earn to live in New York?

2024 ACS Median Income

$80,483/yr

30% Rule for RentRecommended
$72,840 / year

To afford New York's median gross rent of $1,821/mo at or below 30% of gross earnings, a household needs approximately $35.02/hour (full-time).

28% Rule for HomeownershipMedian Home
$197,186 / year

Modeled against New York's median home benchmark of $777,600 (estimated $4,601/mo ownership carrying cost at typical 7.1% baseline).

Slide to test your income against local rent, taxes, and essentials.
$80,483gross/year
Affordability Status:Balanced
Rent is 27% of gross income (40% of net pay)

Rent aligns with the standard 30% rule (27% of gross pay). Standard budgeting applies.

Monthly Budget AllocationEstimated Net Take-Home: $4,517/mo
Tax 33%
Rent 27%
Essentials 19%
Savings 21%
Taxes: $2,213/mo Rent: $1,821/mo Essentials: $1,250/mo Discretionary Margin: $1,446/mo

Time and daily routine

The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 40 minutes in Jersey City 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.

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Decision checklist

  • Median household income levels
  • Gross rent and home values
  • Derived one-way commute estimates
  • State income tax data availability

What each city wins

Jersey City

Median household income of $97,710 against a $2,007 median gross rent.. Watch a derived 40-minute one-way commute estimate alongside citywide housing costs..

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 do median household incomes compare between Jersey City and New York?

According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Jersey City has a median household income of $97,710, whereas New York records a median household income of $80,483.

What are the median housing costs in both cities?

The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows a median gross rent of $2,007 and a median owner-occupied home value of $566,900 in Jersey City. In contrast, New York records a median gross rent of $1,821 and a median home value of $777,600.

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.

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