Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Montgomery to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Phoenix has higher median household income ($81,332 vs $56,811) and higher housing costs (rent $1,582 vs $1,089; home value $420,700 vs $161,900) than Montgomery. Phoenix also has a longer commute (28 vs 22 minutes) and applies a 2.50% state income tax in the calculator, while Montgomery’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. These trade-offs reflect differing cost-of-living and earnings profiles.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → MontgomeryMoving from Montgomery to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$493/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$5,916 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
+6 min / day
Difference of ~50 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 VERDICTMON → PHX
52/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$3,668after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Montgomery is about $5,916 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.
Montgomery household income$56,811
Phoenix household income$81,332
Montgomery gross rent$1,089
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Montgomery | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 197,494 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $56,811 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,089 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $161,900 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 22 minutes in Montgomery and 28 minutes in Phoenix. 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 income tax treatment in model
What each city wins
Montgomery
Median rent is below the model’s non-housing baseline.. Watch lower rent may reflect trade-offs in housing quality, age, or location within the city..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between the two cities?
Phoenix has higher median gross rent at $1,582 per month and median home value at $420,700, compared to Montgomery’s $1,089 rent and $161,900 home value, based on 2024 ACS 5-year data.
What role does income play in the cost comparison?
Phoenix’s median household income is $81,332, significantly higher than Montgomery’s $56,811, which may offset some of its higher housing and tax costs in the calculator model.
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.