Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from St. Paul to New York
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, St. Paul has a lower median household income ($73,394) than New York City ($80,483), but significantly lower housing costs: median gross rent is $1,281 vs. $1,821 and median home value is $294,500 vs. $777,600. Commute times are shorter in St. Paul (23 minutes) compared to NYC (44 minutes). NYC applies a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 5.50% in the model, while St. Paul’s state tax is excluded per profile constraints. These factors create a trade-off where NYC offers higher income but at much higher housing and time costs, while St. Paul provides more affordable living and shorter commutes despite lower earnings.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → St. PaulMoving from St. Paul to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$540/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$6,480 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+21 min / day
Difference of ~175 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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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 → NYC
37/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$256after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, St. Paul is about $6,480 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
New York household income$80,483
St. Paul gross rent$1,281
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | St. Paul | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 307,284 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $73,394 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,281 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $294,500 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in St. Paul and 44 minutes in New York. 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 reference
What each city wins
St. Paul
Mixed affordability. Watch rent vs income balance.
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between St. Paul and New York City?
St. Paul’s median gross rent is $1,281 per month and median home value is $294,500, both substantially lower than New York City’s $1,821 median rent and $777,600 median home value, according to 2024 ACS 5-year data.
What is the difference in commute times between the two cities?
St. Paul residents have a derived one-way commute estimate of 23 minutes, while New York City commuters average 44 minutes one way, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303.
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.