Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from North Las Vegas to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, North Las Vegas has a higher median household income ($79,542 vs $77,902) and higher median home value ($404,400 vs $334,100) than Chicago, but also higher median gross rent ($1,705 vs $1,440). Chicago has a longer average commute (36 vs 29 minutes) and applies a simplified state individual income tax rate of 4.95% in its calculator, while North Las Vegas excludes state income tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption for both. These factors create a trade-off: North Las Vegas offers higher income and home values but higher housing costs and no state tax inclusion in the model, whereas Chicago has lower income and home values but lower rent, longer commutes, and includes a state tax assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → North Las VegasMoving from North Las Vegas to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$265/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$3,180/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+7 min / day
Difference of ~58 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 VERDICTNOR → CHI
58/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$10,020after 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 $3,180 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.
North Las Vegas household income$79,542
Chicago household income$77,902
North Las Vegas gross rent$1,705
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | North Las Vegas | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 278,595 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $79,542 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,705 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $404,400 | $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 29 minutes in North Las Vegas 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
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- Derived one-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment in calculator
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
North Las Vegas
Median rent is 25.7% of median income.. Watch lower home values may reflect tradeoffs in amenities or services..
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?
North Las Vegas has a higher median gross rent ($1,705) and median home value ($404,400) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 home value), despite having a slightly higher median household income, indicating relatively higher housing costs.
How does the tax treatment differ between the two cities in the calculator?
Chicago uses a simplified state individual income tax rate of 4.95% in its calculator, while North Las Vegas excludes state income tax entirely due to the absence of an approved state reference, making direct tax comparisons model-dependent.
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.