Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Spring Valley to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Spring Valley, NV has a lower median household income ($74,511) than Chicago, IL ($77,902), but significantly higher housing costs: median gross rent is $1,743 vs. $1,440 and median home value is $433,800 vs. $334,100. Spring Valley residents have a shorter average commute (24 minutes) compared to Chicago (36 minutes). Chicago applies a flat state individual income tax rate of 4.95% in the calculator model, while Nevada has no state individual income tax, though this is not modeled as a direct deduction in the uniform baseline. The trade-off involves weighing Spring Valley’s higher housing expenses against its shorter commute and tax structure, versus Chicago’s lower housing costs relative to income but longer commute and state tax consideration.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → Spring ValleyMoving from Spring Valley to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
-$303/mo
Moving to Chicago saves ~$3,636/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+12 min / day
Difference of ~100 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 VERDICTSPR → CHI
57/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$10,476after 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 $3,636 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.
Spring Valley household income$74,511
Chicago household income$77,902
Spring Valley gross rent$1,743
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Spring Valley | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 219,187 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $74,511 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,743 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $433,800 | $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 24 minutes in Spring Valley 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 comparison
- Housing costs: rent and home value
- Average one-way commute time
- State income tax treatment in model
What each city wins
Spring Valley
Median rent at 28% of income suggests moderate affordability.. Watch higher home values may offset rent affordability for buyers..
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 Spring Valley and Chicago relative to income?
Spring Valley has higher median gross rent ($1,743) and median home value ($433,800) than Chicago ($1,440 rent, $334,100 home value), despite Chicago’s slightly higher median household income ($77,902 vs. $74,511), indicating a less favorable housing-cost-to-income ratio in Spring Valley.
What is the trade-off between commute time and housing affordability in these two cities?
Spring Valley offers a shorter average commute (24 minutes) than Chicago (36 minutes), but at a significantly higher housing cost burden; Chicago residents pay less for housing relative to income but spend more time commuting, reflecting a classic time-vs.-cost trade-off in residential location decisions.
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.