Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Tacoma to New York
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Tacoma has higher median income ($85,884 vs $80,483) and lower median rent ($1,676 vs $1,821) than New York City, but NYC’s home values are substantially higher ($777,600 vs $479,600). Tacoma’s commute is shorter (31 vs 44 minutes). NYC applies a 5.50% state income tax in the model; Tacoma’s state tax is excluded per source boundaries. These factors create a trade-off: Tacoma offers better income-to-rent ratio and commute, while NYC has higher housing costs and longer commutes despite similar incomes.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → TacomaMoving from Tacoma to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$145/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$1,740 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
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.
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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 VERDICTTAC → NYC
47/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$4,484after 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, Tacoma is about $1,740 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
New York household income$80,483
Tacoma gross rent$1,676
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Tacoma | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 222,758 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $85,884 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,676 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $479,600 | $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 31 minutes in Tacoma 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 favors Tacoma
- Median gross rent is lower in Tacoma
- Commute time is shorter in Tacoma
- State income tax modeled only for New York City
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..
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
Which city has a better balance of income and housing costs based on 2024 ACS data?
Tacoma shows a more favorable income-to-rent ratio: median income is about 51 times monthly rent, compared to NYC’s 44 times, indicating relatively stronger purchasing power for renters in Tacoma.
How do commute times and tax assumptions affect the comparison between the two cities?
Tacoma’s average commute is 13 minutes shorter than NYC’s. While NYC includes a 5.50% state income tax in the model, Tacoma’s state tax is not applied due to source boundaries, making direct tax comparisons invalid per the data’s limitations.
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.