Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Mobile to Los Angeles
Using 2024 ACS 5-year data, Mobile shows lower median income ($53,558) and housing costs (rent $1,068, home value $193,300) with a 25-minute commute, while Los Angeles has higher income ($81,939) but significantly elevated housing (rent $1,933, home value $921,200) and a 33-minute commute. Los Angeles applies a 9.30% state income tax in the calculator, whereas Mobile’s state tax is excluded per data constraints. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption. Trade-offs involve income gains versus housing and tax burdens, with commute times reflecting regional mobility patterns.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → MobileMoving from Mobile to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$865/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$10,380 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+8 min / day
Difference of ~67 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 → LAX
37/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$8,412after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Mobile is about $10,380 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
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Mobile gross rent$1,068
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Mobile | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 203,416 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $53,558 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $193,300 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 25 minutes in Mobile and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. 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 comparison
- Median gross rent and home value
- One-way commute time estimates
- 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..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between Mobile and Los Angeles?
Mobile’s median gross rent is $1,068 and median home value is $193,300, while Los Angeles reports $1,933 in median gross rent and $921,200 in median home value, based on 2024 ACS 5-year tables B25064 and B25077.
What role does state income tax play in the comparison?
Los Angeles uses a 9.30% state individual income tax reference in the calculator, which is not personal tax liability. Mobile’s state tax is excluded due to lack of approved official reference, per profile constraints.
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.