Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Plano to Los Angeles
Comparing Plano, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, using 2024 ACS data reveals distinct financial and logistical trade-offs. Plano offers a substantially higher median household income of $112,253 paired with a lower median gross rent of $1,841 and a median owner-occupied home value of $465,900, alongside a 27-minute commute. Conversely, Los Angeles presents a larger population of 3,857,263, a lower median household income of $81,939, higher housing costs with a median gross rent of $1,933 and a home value of $921,200, and a longer 33-minute commute. Additionally, Los Angeles factors in a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30%, while Plano's state individual income tax is excluded from the provided profile. Neither city is designated as a universal winner.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → PlanoMoving from Plano to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$92/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$1,104 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
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.
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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 VERDICTPLA → LAX
44/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$864after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Plano is about $1,104 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.
Plano household income$112,253
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Plano gross rent$1,841
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Plano | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 290,594 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $112,253 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,841 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $465,900 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 27 minutes in Plano and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. 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
- Plano median household income versus Los Angeles
- Median owner-occupied home value differences
- Derived one-way commute duration comparison
- State individual income-tax reference inclusion
What each city wins
Plano
Rent-to-income ratio suggests rental affordability.. Watch home values may strain affordability despite favorable rental metrics..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do the median household incomes compare between Plano and Los Angeles?
According to 2024 ACS data, Plano has a median household income of $112,253, whereas Los Angeles has a median household income of $81,939.
What are the housing costs in Plano compared to Los Angeles?
Based on 2024 ACS estimates, Plano has a median gross rent of $1,841 and a median owner-occupied home value of $465,900. In comparison, Los Angeles reports a median gross rent of $1,933 and a median owner-occupied home value of $921,200.
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.