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Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS

Moving from New York to Richmond

New York and Richmond answer different parts of the relocation question. Richmond has the lower default annual core-cost model, while the salary, excluded state-tax assumption, and rent-versus-buy choice can reverse that result. Use the citywide ACS figures as reference points, then replace them with the actual offer and housing quote.

Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta

Moving from New York to Richmond

⇄ Switch to RichmondNew York
Median Rent Impact
-$449/mo

Moving to Richmond saves ~$5,388/yr in rent.

State Tax Treatment
-5.5%

~$5,500 saved in state tax on a $100k salary in Virginia.

Daily Commute Difference
-21 min / day

Difference of ~175 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.

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What matters most?

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 VERDICTNYCRIC
87/ 100

Worth serious consideration

Your modeled annual room improves.
Estimated annual life delta+$22,997after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Take-home$63,983$81,592
Core costs$36,852$31,464
Commute time165 hours gained
Best gainMedian rent is $1,372/month; median home value is $353,000.
Watch closelyLower home values may reflect older housing stock or fewer amenities compared to higher-cost metros.
See assumptions and methodology →
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The short answer

In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Richmond is about $5,388 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.

New York household income$80,483
Richmond household income$64,587
New York gross rent$1,821
Richmond gross rent$1,372

Housing, income, and tax reference

MetricNew YorkRichmond
2024 ACS population8,483,844229,359
Median household income$80,483$64,587
Median gross rent$1,821$1,372
Median owner-occupied home value$777,600$353,000
State-tax treatment5.5% simplifiedExcluded
Salary & Affordability Benchmark

How much do you need to earn to live in Richmond?

2024 ACS Median Income

$64,587/yr

30% Rule for RentRecommended
$54,880 / year

To afford Richmond's median gross rent of $1,372/mo at or below 30% of gross earnings, a household needs approximately $26.38/hour (full-time).

28% Rule for HomeownershipMedian Home
$89,529 / year

Modeled against Richmond's median home benchmark of $353,000 (estimated $2,089/mo ownership carrying cost at typical 7.1% baseline).

Slide to test your income against local rent, taxes, and essentials.
$64,587gross/year
Affordability Status:Balanced
Rent is 25% of gross income (33% of net pay)

Rent aligns with the standard 30% rule (25% of gross pay). Standard budgeting applies.

Monthly Budget AllocationEstimated Net Take-Home: $4,190/mo
Tax 22%
Rent 25%
Essentials 23%
Savings 30%
Taxes: $1,184/mo Rent: $1,372/mo Essentials: $1,250/mo Discretionary Margin: $1,568/mo

Time and daily routine

The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 44 minutes in New York and 23 minutes in Richmond. 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.

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Decision checklist

  • Compare actual offers rather than city medians
  • Verify neighborhood housing against the citywide ACS benchmark
  • Treat renting and buying as separate decisions
  • Use the route-specific commute, not only the city estimate

What each city wins

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.

Richmond

Median rent is $1,372/month; median home value is $353,000.. Watch lower home values may reflect older housing stock or fewer amenities compared to higher-cost metros..

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.

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