Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Modesto to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Modesto has a higher median household income ($79,891 vs $77,902) and higher median home value ($442,700 vs $334,100) than Chicago, but also higher median gross rent ($1,690 vs $1,440). Chicago has a longer average commute (36 vs 31 minutes) and applies a flat state income tax rate of 4.95% in the model, while Modesto’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. The trade-off centers on Modesto’s stronger income and home equity potential versus Chicago’s lower housing costs and tax transparency, though neither metric alone determines overall affordability or quality of life.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → ModestoMoving from Modesto to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$250/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$3,000/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+5 min / day
Difference of ~42 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 VERDICTMOD → CHI
59/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$9,840after 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, Chicago is about $3,000 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.
Modesto household income$79,891
Chicago household income$77,902
Modesto gross rent$1,690
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Modesto | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 219,215 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $79,891 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,690 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $442,700 | $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 31 minutes in Modesto 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 favors Modesto slightly
- Median gross rent is lower in Chicago
- Median home value is significantly higher in Modesto
- Chicago models a 4.95% state income tax; Modesto excludes it
What each city wins
Modesto
A median owner-occupied home value of $442,700.. Watch a 31-minute derived one-way commute..
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 has higher housing costs relative to income?
Modesto has higher median gross rent ($1,690) and home value ($442,700) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 value), despite Modesto’s slightly higher income, indicating a tighter housing-cost-to-income ratio in Modesto.
How does the tax treatment differ between the two cities in this comparison?
Chicago applies a modeled 4.95% flat state income tax rate in the calculator, while Modesto deliberately excludes state individual income tax due to lack of an approved official reference, making direct tax burden comparisons incomplete.
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.