Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Port St. Lucie to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Port St. Lucie has a higher median household income ($80,648 vs $77,902) and higher median home value ($369,200 vs $334,100) than Chicago, but also higher median gross rent ($1,937 vs $1,440). Chicago has a slightly longer average commute (36 vs 33 minutes) and applies a 4.95% state individual income tax in the calculator, while Port St. Lucie’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. These trade-offs reflect differing cost-of-living and income dynamics.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → Port St. LucieMoving from Port St. Lucie to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$497/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$5,964/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+3 min / day
Difference of ~25 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 VERDICTPOR → CHI
64/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$12,804after 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 $5,964 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.
Port St. Lucie household income$80,648
Chicago household income$77,902
Port St. Lucie gross rent$1,937
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Port St. Lucie | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 232,491 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $80,648 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,937 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $369,200 | $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 33 minutes in Port St. Lucie 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
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment
What each city wins
Port St. Lucie
Median rent consumes 28.8% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden may offset higher transportation or non-housing costs..
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?
Port St. Lucie has higher median gross rent ($1,937) and home value ($369,200) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 value), despite its slightly higher income, indicating a higher housing cost burden.
How do commute times and taxes compare between the two cities?
Chicago residents have a slightly longer average commute (36 minutes) than Port St. Lucie (33 minutes), and the calculator applies a 4.95% state income tax for Chicago while excluding state tax for Port St. Lucie due to data source boundaries.
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.