Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Lubbock to Phoenix
Comparing Lubbock, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, using the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates reveals distinct trade-offs between affordability and scale. Lubbock offers a smaller population of 264,814, a lower median household income of $60,895, and more accessible housing costs, including a median gross rent of $1,182 and a median home value of $212,400. Its derived one-way commute is shorter at 18 minutes. Conversely, Phoenix is a much larger metropolis with a population of 1,642,323 and a higher median household income of $81,332, offset by higher housing expenses featuring a median gross rent of $1,582 and a median home value of $420,700, along with a 28-minute commute and a simplified 2.50% state income-tax reference.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → LubbockMoving from Lubbock to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$400/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$4,800 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
+10 min / day
Difference of ~83 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.
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 VERDICTLUB → PHX
51/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$4,784after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
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
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Lubbock is about $4,800 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.
Lubbock household income$60,895
Phoenix household income$81,332
Lubbock gross rent$1,182
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Lubbock | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 264,814 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $60,895 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,182 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $212,400 | $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 18 minutes in Lubbock 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
- Population scale and metropolitan size differences
- Median household income and tax variations
- Rental and homeownership affordability metrics
- Estimated one-way commute duration
What each city wins
Lubbock
Median rent consumes 23% of median income, below the 30% affordability benchmark.. Watch low rent-to-income ratio may be offset by high non-housing costs per model assumptions..
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 median home values compare between Lubbock and Phoenix?
According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, the median owner-occupied home value in Lubbock is $212,400, while Phoenix has a significantly higher median home value of $420,700.
What is the difference in estimated one-way commutes between the two cities?
Lubbock features a derived one-way commute estimate of 18 minutes based on Census data, whereas Phoenix has a longer estimated one-way commute of 28 minutes.
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.