Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Scottsdale to Chicago
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Scottsdale has higher income ($110,886) and home values ($789,800) but also higher rents ($2,013) and a shorter commute (23 min). Chicago has lower income ($77,902) and home values ($334,100), lower rent ($1,440), but a longer commute (36 min). Illinois applies a 4.95% state income tax in the model, while Arizona’s tax is excluded per source boundaries. These trade-offs reflect differing cost-of-living and lifestyle profiles without implying one city is universally better.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → ScottsdaleMoving from Scottsdale to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$573/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$6,876/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+13 min / day
Difference of ~108 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 VERDICTSCO → CHI
56/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$13,716after 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 $6,876 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.
Scottsdale household income$110,886
Chicago household income$77,902
Scottsdale gross rent$2,013
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Scottsdale | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 243,821 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $110,886 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $2,013 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $789,800 | $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 23 minutes in Scottsdale 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
Scottsdale
Median home value exceeds 7x median income.. Watch higher income offsets rent burden but home ownership remains costly relative to earnings..
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 Scottsdale and Chicago?
Scottsdale’s median gross rent is $2,013 per month, significantly higher than Chicago’s $1,440. Similarly, Scottsdale’s median home value is $789,800 versus Chicago’s $334,100, reflecting substantially higher housing costs in Scottsdale across both rental and ownership markets.
What is the trade-off between income, commute, and taxes in these cities?
Scottsdale offers higher income and shorter commutes but at much higher housing costs, with Arizona’s state tax excluded in the model. Chicago has lower income and longer commutes, but more affordable housing and a modeled 4.95% Illinois state income tax, creating a distinct affordability-lifestyle balance.
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.