Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Mobile to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Mobile has lower median income ($53,558) and housing costs (rent $1,068, home value $193,300) with a shorter commute (25 min), while Chicago shows higher income ($77,902) and housing expenses (rent $1,440, home value $334,100) alongside a longer commute (36 min). Chicago applies a 4.95% state income tax in the model, whereas Mobile’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off involves weighing Chicago’s higher earnings against its elevated costs and longer commute, versus Mobile’s affordability and shorter travel time, without asserting a universal preference.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → MobileMoving from Mobile to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$372/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$4,464 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+11 min / day
Difference of ~92 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 VERDICTMOB → CHI
48/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$2,376after 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, Mobile is about $4,464 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.
Mobile household income$53,558
Chicago household income$77,902
Mobile gross rent$1,068
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Mobile | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 203,416 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $53,558 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $193,300 | $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 25 minutes in Mobile 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
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment
What each city wins
Mobile
Median rent is $1,068/month; median home value is $193,300.. Watch lower home values may reflect tradeoffs in job access or neighborhood amenities not captured in citywide 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
How do housing costs compare between Mobile and Chicago?
Mobile’s median gross rent is $1,068 per month and median home value is $193,300, while Chicago’s are $1,440 and $334,100 respectively, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What is the difference in commute times between the two cities?
Mobile has a derived one-way commute estimate of 25 minutes, compared to Chicago’s 36 minutes, calculated from weighted midpoints in 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.