Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Newark to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Phoenix has higher median income ($81,332 vs $52,060) and home value ($420,700 vs $373,700) than Newark, but also higher gross rent ($1,582 vs $1,392). Newark’s longer commute (36 vs 28 minutes) offsets some income advantage, while Phoenix applies a 2.50% state income tax in the model—Newark’s state tax is excluded per source boundaries. These factors create a trade-off where Phoenix offers greater earning potential and home equity but higher housing costs and tax exposure, whereas Newark provides lower housing costs relative to income despite longer commutes and no modeled state tax.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → NewarkMoving from Newark to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$190/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$2,280 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
-8 min / day
Difference of ~67 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 VERDICTNEW → PHX
66/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$7,304after 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, Newark is about $2,280 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.
Newark household income$52,060
Phoenix household income$81,332
Newark gross rent$1,392
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Newark | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 310,178 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $52,060 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,392 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $373,700 | $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 36 minutes in Newark 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 individual income tax treatment
What each city wins
Newark
High rent burden. Watch rent vs income balance.
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 does Newark’s lower income compare to Phoenix’s when accounting for housing costs?
Newark’s median income is 36% lower than Phoenix’s, but its gross rent is only 12% lower, meaning housing consumes a larger share of income in Newark despite lower absolute rents.
Why is Phoenix’s state income tax included in the model but Newark’s is not?
Phoenix uses a simplified 2.50% state income tax reference as part of the calculator’s standardized assumption, while Newark’s profile deliberately excludes state tax due to lack of an approved current official reference for automatic inclusion.
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.