Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Paul to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Chicago has higher median household income ($77,902 vs $73,394) and higher median gross rent ($1,440 vs $1,281) than St. Paul. Chicago’s longer average commute (36 vs 23 minutes) offsets some income gains, while its state individual income tax (4.95%) applies to earnings. St. Paul has lower housing costs and shorter commutes but lower income and no state tax rate applied in this model. The trade-off involves weighing income against housing, time, and tax burdens.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → St. PaulMoving from St. Paul to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$159/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$1,908 more/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.
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 VERDICTSTP → CHI
48/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$4,932after 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. Paul is about $1,908 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. Paul household income$73,394
Chicago household income$77,902
St. Paul gross rent$1,281
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Paul | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 307,284 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $73,394 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,281 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $294,500 | $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 23 minutes in St. Paul 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
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax
What each city wins
St. Paul
Mixed affordability. Watch rent vs income balance.
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 St. Paul’s $73,394, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How do housing costs compare between the two cities?
Chicago’s median gross rent is $1,440 per month, higher than St. Paul’s $1,281, while median home values are also higher in Chicago at $334,100 versus St. Paul’s $294,500, per 2024 ACS Tables B25064 and B25077.
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.