Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Providence to Chicago
The 2024 ACS 5-year estimates show Chicago has higher median income ($77,902 vs $68,119) and slightly higher median gross rent ($1,440 vs $1,408) than Providence, but lower median home value ($334,100 vs $362,200). Providence offers a shorter commute (27 vs 36 minutes). Chicago applies a 4.95% state income tax in the model, while Providence’s tax is excluded per data boundaries. These factors create a trade-off: Chicago favors earners seeking urban opportunity despite longer commutes and tax, while Providence appeals to those prioritizing shorter commutes and lower home values, accepting lower income and no modeled tax benefit.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → ProvidenceMoving from Providence to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$32/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$384 more/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 VERDICTPRO → CHI
53/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$6,456after 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, Providence is about $384 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.
Providence household income$68,119
Chicago household income$77,902
Providence gross rent$1,408
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Providence | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 191,767 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $68,119 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,408 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $362,200 | $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 27 minutes in Providence 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
What each city wins
Providence
Median rent consumes about 25% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden may be offset by higher non-housing costs or limited income growth..
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 a higher median household income according to the 2024 ACS?
Chicago has a higher median household income at $77,902 compared to Providence’s $68,119, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How do commute times compare between the two cities?
Providence has a shorter average one-way commute of 27 minutes, while Chicago’s is 36 minutes, derived from weighted midpoints in the 2024 ACS Table B0803.
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.