Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Tacoma to Los Angeles
Based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Tacoma has a higher median household income ($85,884) than Los Angeles ($81,939), but Los Angeles has significantly higher housing costs, with median gross rent at $1,933/month versus Tacoma’s $1,676/month and median home value at $921,200 versus $479,600. Despite Tacoma’s income advantage, Los Angeles residents face a 9.30% state income tax rate in the model, while Tacoma’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. Commute times are similar (Tacoma 31 minutes, Los Angeles 33 minutes), suggesting housing affordability and tax treatment are key differentiators in the cost-of-living trade-off.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → TacomaMoving from Tacoma to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$257/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$3,084 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+2 min / day
Difference of ~17 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 VERDICTTAC → LAX
46/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$1,116after 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, Tacoma is about $3,084 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.
Tacoma household income$85,884
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Tacoma gross rent$1,676
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Tacoma | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 222,758 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $85,884 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,676 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $479,600 | $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 31 minutes in Tacoma 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 favors Tacoma
- Los Angeles has higher rent and home values
- Commute times are nearly equivalent
- State income tax modeled only for Los Angeles
What each city wins
Tacoma
Median rent consumes roughly 23% of median income.. Watch lower rent than many west coast cities but offset by moderate incomes and commute times..
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
Which city offers better housing affordability relative to income?
Tacoma shows a more favorable income-to-housing-cost ratio, with lower median gross rent and home values despite a slightly higher median household income than Los Angeles.
How does the state income tax assumption affect the comparison?
The model applies a 9.30% state income tax rate to Los Angeles but excludes Tacoma’s state tax due to lack of approved reference, making Tacoma’s effective income advantage potentially larger in the calculator.
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.