Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Paul to Los Angeles
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Los Angeles has higher median income ($81,939 vs $73,394) and higher housing costs (rent $1,933 vs $1,281; home value $921,200 vs $294,500) than St. Paul. LA also has a longer commute (33 vs 23 minutes) and applies a 9.30% state income tax in the calculator, while St. Paul’s tax is excluded per source boundaries. The trade-off involves weighing LA’s income premium against its elevated housing burden, longer commute, and tax cost, versus St. Paul’s lower costs and shorter commute but lower income.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → St. PaulMoving from St. Paul to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$652/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$7,824 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+10 min / day
Difference of ~83 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 VERDICTSTP → LAX
37/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$5,856after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, St. Paul is about $7,824 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
Los Angeles household income$81,939
St. Paul gross rent$1,281
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Paul | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 307,284 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $73,394 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,281 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $294,500 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in St. Paul and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. 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 income tax in calculator
What each city wins
St. Paul
Mixed affordability. Watch rent vs income balance.
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between the two cities?
Los Angeles has significantly higher housing costs: median gross rent is $1,933/month versus $1,281 in St. Paul, and median home value is $921,200 versus $294,500, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
What is the difference in commute time and income between the cities?
Los Angeles residents have a 10-minute longer average commute (33 vs 23 minutes) but earn $8,545 more in median household income annually than St. Paul residents, according to 2024 ACS data.
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.