Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Tacoma to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Tacoma has a higher median household income ($85,884 vs $81,332) and higher median home value ($479,600 vs $420,700) than Phoenix, but also higher median gross rent ($1,676 vs $1,582). Tacoma’s derived one-way commute is longer at 31 minutes versus Phoenix’s 28 minutes. Phoenix applies a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 2.50% in the calculator, while Tacoma’s state tax is excluded per current model constraints. These trade-offs reflect differing cost-of-living and income dynamics, with Tacoma showing stronger income and home values but higher housing costs and longer commutes, and Phoenix offering lower housing costs and shorter commutes with a modeled tax assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → TacomaMoving from Tacoma to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
-$94/mo
Moving to Phoenix saves ~$1,128/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
-3 min / day
Difference of ~25 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 → PHX
63/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$10,712after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Phoenix is about $1,128 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
Phoenix household income$81,332
Tacoma gross rent$1,676
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Tacoma | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 222,758 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $85,884 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,676 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $479,600 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 31 minutes in Tacoma and 28 minutes in Phoenix. 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
- Derived one-way commute time
- State individual income-tax reference in calculator
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..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has higher housing costs relative to income?
Tacoma has higher median gross rent ($1,676) and median home value ($479,600) than Phoenix ($1,582 rent, $420,700 value), despite Tacoma’s higher median income ($85,884 vs $81,332), indicating relatively higher housing cost burden in Tacoma.
How do commute times compare between the two cities?
Tacoma’s derived one-way commute estimate is 31 minutes, while Phoenix’s is 28 minutes, based on weighted midpoints from the 2024 ACS table B08303, indicating Phoenix residents have slightly shorter average commutes.
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.