Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Laredo to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Laredo has a lower median household income ($63,915) and lower housing costs (median gross rent $1,030, median home value $193,500) with a shorter commute (23 minutes). Phoenix has higher income ($81,332) but significantly higher housing costs (rent $1,582, home value $420,700) and a longer commute (28 minutes). Phoenix applies a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 2.50% in the calculator, while Laredo’s state tax is excluded per profile boundaries. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption applied equally to both cities. These factors create a trade-off where Phoenix offers higher earnings potential but at greater housing and time costs, while Laredo provides more affordable living with lower income and shorter commutes, reflecting differing regional economic profiles.
Moving from Laredo to Phoenix
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$6,624 more/yr in rent.
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Difference of ~42 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
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.
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Laredo is about $6,624 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.
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Laredo | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 257,619 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $63,915 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,030 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $193,500 | $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 23 minutes in Laredo 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 reference
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Laredo
Rent-to-income ratio suggests affordability at the city level.. Watch citywide averages may mask significant local cost and income disparities..
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
How do housing costs compare between Laredo and Phoenix?
Laredo’s median gross rent is $1,030 per month and median home value is $193,500, while Phoenix’s are $1,582 and $420,700 respectively, making housing substantially more affordable in Laredo according to 2024 ACS data.
What role does commute time play in the Laredo-Phoenix comparison?
Laredo’s derived one-way commute is 23 minutes versus Phoenix’s 28 minutes, indicating residents in Laredo spend less time traveling to work on average, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303.
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.