Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Louis to Chicago
Based on 2000 on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, St. Louis offers lower housing costs with a median gross rent of $997 and home value of $197,500, but has a lower median household income of $56,160 and a shorter commute of 24 minutes. Chicago has higher income ($77,902) and higher housing costs ($1,440 rent, $334,100 home value) with a longer commute of 36 minutes. Illinois applies a 4.95% state individual income tax in the calculator model, while Missouri’s tax is excluded per data boundaries. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month is a model assumption. Trade-offs involve income versus housing affordability and commute time, with tax treatment differing by state in the model framework.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → St. LouisMoving from St. Louis to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$443/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$5,316 more/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.
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 VERDICTSTL → CHI
46/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$1,524after 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, St. Louis is about $5,316 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.
St. Louis household income$56,160
Chicago household income$77,902
St. Louis gross rent$997
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Louis | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 288,512 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $56,160 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $997 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $197,500 | $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 St. Louis 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 in model
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
St. Louis
Affordable options available. Watch rent vs owner-occupied 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
How do housing costs compare between the two cities?
St. Louis has a median gross rent of $997 per month and median home value of $197,500, while Chicago’s median gross rent is $1,440 and median home value is $334,100, based on 2024 ACS 5-year data.
What role does state income tax play in the comparison?
The calculator applies a 4.95% state individual income tax for Illinois (Chicago), while Missouri’s tax is excluded for St. Louis due to lack of approved state reference in the model; this is not a reflection of actual tax liability.
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.