Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Port St. Lucie to Los Angeles
Both cities use 2024 ACS 5-year data. Port St. Lucie has lower home values ($369,200 vs $921,200) and slightly lower income ($80,648 vs $81,939), but identical median gross rent (~$1,935) and commute (33 min). Los Angeles applies a 9.30% state income tax in the model, while Port St. Lucie’s tax is excluded per source boundaries. This creates a trade-off: LA offers higher income but higher housing costs and tax exposure; Port St. Lucie offers lower entry costs with comparable income and commute, though tax treatment differs in the calculator.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → Port St. LucieMoving from Port St. Lucie to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
-$4/mo
Moving to Los Angeles saves ~$48/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
Equal time
Both cities average the same one-way commute duration.
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 → LAX
52/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$2,016after 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, Los Angeles is about $48 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
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Port St. Lucie gross rent$1,937
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Port St. Lucie | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 232,491 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $80,648 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,937 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $369,200 | $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 33 minutes in Port St. Lucie 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
- Median home value: $369,200 vs $921,200
- Median household income: $80,648 vs $81,939
- Median gross rent: $1,937 vs $1,933
- State income tax: excluded vs 9.30% model input
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..
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
Which city has higher housing costs relative to income?
Los Angeles has a median home value 149% higher than Port St. Lucie’s, while income is only 1.6% higher, indicating significantly higher housing cost burden in LA despite similar rents and incomes.
How does the tax assumption affect the comparison between the two cities?
The calculator applies a 9.30% state income tax rate for Los Angeles but excludes state tax for Port St. Lucie per source boundaries, making LA’s effective after-tax income lower in the model despite its slightly higher nominal income.
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.