Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Modesto to New York
The 2024 ACS 5 ACS 5-year data shows Modesto and New York City have nearly identical median household incomes ($79,891 vs $80,483), but stark differences in housing costs and commutes. New York’s median gross rent is $131 higher monthly, and home values are $334,900 above Modesto’s, reflecting its dense urban market. However, New Yorkers face longer commutes (44 vs 31 minutes), offsetting some income advantage. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month applies equally, meaning disposable income after housing and essentials is significantly higher in Modesto despite similar earnings. New York’s 5.50% state income tax reference further reduces take-home pay, while Modesto’s lack of a modeled state tax preserves more net income. These trade-offs highlight how identical incomes yield vastly different affordability outcomes based on local housing, transit, and tax modeling assumptions.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → ModestoMoving from Modesto to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$131/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$1,572 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+13 min / day
Difference of ~108 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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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 → NYC
48/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$4,652after 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, Modesto is about $1,572 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
New York household income$80,483
Modesto gross rent$1,690
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Modesto | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 219,215 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $79,891 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,690 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $442,700 | $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 31 minutes in Modesto 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 nearly equal
- New York rent $131/month higher
- New York home values $334,900 above Modesto
- New York commute 13 minutes longer
- Uniform non-housing baseline $1,250/month
- New York applies 5.50% state income tax reference
What each city wins
Modesto
A median owner-occupied home value of $442,700.. Watch a 31-minute derived one-way commute..
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
Which city offers better housing affordability relative to income?
Modesto provides better housing affordability despite nearly identical median incomes, as its median gross rent is $1,690 versus New York’s $1,821 and median home value is $442,700 compared to $777,600, resulting in lower housing cost burdens.
How do commute times affect the overall cost of living comparison?
New York’s average one-way commute is 44 minutes versus Modesto’s 31 minutes, adding significant time and potential transit costs that reduce effective disposable income, partially counteracting New York’s slight income advantage.
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.