Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Oxnard to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Oxnard has a higher median household income ($96,212) and median home value ($652,700) than Chicago ($77,902 and $334,100), but also higher median gross rent ($2,032 vs $1,440). Chicago has a longer average commute (36 minutes vs 27 minutes) and applies a simplified state income tax rate of 4.95% in the calculator, while Oxnard’s state tax is excluded per profile constraints. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption applied equally to both cities. These factors create a trade-off: Oxnard offers higher income and home values but higher housing costs, while Chicago has lower income and home values but lower rent and a tax-inclusive calculator assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → OxnardMoving from Oxnard to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$592/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$7,104/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+9 min / day
Difference of ~75 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 VERDICTOXN → CHI
60/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$13,944after 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 $7,104 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.
Oxnard household income$96,212
Chicago household income$77,902
Oxnard gross rent$2,032
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Oxnard | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 200,928 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $96,212 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $2,032 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $652,700 | $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 27 minutes in Oxnard 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
Oxnard
Median rent is 25.3% of median monthly income.. Watch higher home values reflect long-term equity but increase entry barriers..
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
How do housing costs compare between Oxnard and Chicago?
Oxnard’s median gross rent is $2,032 per month, significantly higher than Chicago’s $1,440, according to 2024 ACS 5-year data, while median home values are also substantially higher in Oxnard at $652,700 versus $334,100 in Chicago.
Which city has a longer average commute, and by how much?
Chicago has a longer average one-way commute at 36 minutes, compared to Oxnard’s 27 minutes, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303, a difference of 9 minutes.
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.