Compare any U.S. Census place · Official 2024 ACS data · Guarded AI analysis

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.

Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta

Moving from Laredo to Phoenix

⇄ Switch to PhoenixLaredo
Median Rent Impact
+$552/mo

Moving to Phoenix costs ~$6,624 more/yr in rent.

State Tax Treatment
+2.5%

~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.

Daily Commute Difference
+5 min / day

Difference of ~42 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.

Your move

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.

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 VERDICTLARPHX
50/ 100

A close, nuanced move

Your modeled annual room improves.
Estimated annual life delta+$2,960after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Take-home$69,208$78,792
Core costs$27,360$33,984
Commute time39 hours lost
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
See assumptions and methodology →
Advertisement

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.

Laredo household income$63,915
Phoenix household income$81,332
Laredo gross rent$1,030
Phoenix gross rent$1,582

Housing, income, and tax reference

MetricLaredoPhoenix
2024 ACS population257,6191,642,323
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 treatmentExcluded2.5% simplified
Salary & Affordability Benchmark

How much do you need to earn to live in Phoenix?

2024 ACS Median Income

$81,332/yr

30% Rule for RentRecommended
$63,280 / year

To afford Phoenix's median gross rent of $1,582/mo at or below 30% of gross earnings, a household needs approximately $30.42/hour (full-time).

28% Rule for HomeownershipMedian Home
$106,671 / year

Modeled against Phoenix's median home benchmark of $420,700 (estimated $2,489/mo ownership carrying cost at typical 7.1% baseline).

Slide to test your income against local rent, taxes, and essentials.
$81,332gross/year
Affordability Status:Comfortable
Rent is 23% of gross income (33% of net pay)

At this income, median rent is only 23% of gross pay, leaving strong room for savings and essentials.

Monthly Budget AllocationEstimated Net Take-Home: $4,768/mo
Tax 30%
Rent 23%
Essentials 18%
Savings 29%
Taxes: $2,033/mo Rent: $1,582/mo Essentials: $1,250/mo Discretionary Margin: $1,936/mo

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement