Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Lincoln to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Lincoln has lower median gross rent ($1,086) and home value ($264,000) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 value), but also lower median income ($71,867 vs $77,902). Lincoln’s shorter commute (20 min vs 36 min) offsets some income gap, while Chicago’s 4.95% state income tax applies to earnings, reducing take-home pay despite higher nominal wages.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → LincolnMoving from Lincoln to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$354/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$4,248 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+16 min / day
Difference of ~133 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 VERDICTLIN → CHI
43/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$2,592after 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, Lincoln is about $4,248 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.
Lincoln household income$71,867
Chicago household income$77,902
Lincoln gross rent$1,086
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Lincoln | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 294,856 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $71,867 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $264,000 | $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 20 minutes in Lincoln 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 and home value
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax rate
What each city wins
Lincoln
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at ~18%.. Watch lower housing costs may reflect tradeoffs in job quality or amenities not captured in acs data..
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
Which city offers better housing affordability relative to income?
Lincoln provides better housing affordability: median gross rent is 18% lower than Chicago’s while median income is only 8% lower, resulting in a more favorable rent-to-income ratio despite lower absolute earnings.
How does commute time affect the effective income difference between the cities?
Lincoln’s 16-minute shorter commute saves roughly 320 hours annually—equivalent to nearly 8 full workweeks—partially compensating for its $6,035 lower median income when considering time as a resource.
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.