Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Mobile to New York
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Mobile, AL has lower median income ($53,558) and housing costs ($1,068 rent, $193,300 home value) with a 25-minute commute, while New York, NY has higher income ($80,483) but significantly elevated housing ($1,821 rent, $777,600 home value) and a 44-minute commute. New York applies a 5.50% state income tax in the calculator, whereas Mobile’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off centers on whether New York’s higher income offsets its substantially higher housing and tax burden relative to Mobile’s more affordable but lower-earning profile.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → MobileMoving from Mobile to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$753/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$9,036 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+19 min / day
Difference of ~158 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 → NYC
37/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$2,812after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Mobile is about $9,036 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
New York household income$80,483
Mobile gross rent$1,068
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Mobile | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 203,416 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $53,558 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,068 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $193,300 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 25 minutes in Mobile and 44 minutes in New York. 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 disparity
- Median gross rent and home value gaps
- One-way commute time difference
- State income tax treatment in model
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..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How does housing affordability compare between Mobile and New York?
Mobile’s median gross rent is $1,068 and median home value is $193,300, while New York’s are $1,821 and $777,600 respectively, making housing substantially more expensive in New York despite its higher median income.
What role does commute time play in the cost-of-living comparison?
New York’s average one-way commute is 44 minutes versus Mobile’s 25 minutes, indicating significantly greater time and potential transit costs in New York, which affects overall livability beyond direct income and housing figures.
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.