Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Toledo to Chicago
Comparing Toledo, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, using 2024 ACS 5-year estimates highlights a clear financial and lifestyle trade-off. Toledo offers a smaller population of 267,463 with lower median gross rent at $901 per month and a median owner-occupied home value of $114,500, paired with a median household income of $49,724 and a shorter 21-minute commute. In contrast, Chicago features a much larger population of 2,711,226, higher median household income at $77,902, but increased costs including a median gross rent of $1,440 and a median home value of $334,100, along with a 36-minute commute and a simplified 4.95% state income tax. Neither city is declared a universal winner.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → ToledoMoving from Toledo to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$539/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$6,468 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
Daily Commute Difference
+15 min / day
Difference of ~125 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 VERDICTTOL → CHI
43/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$372after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainMedian rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability benchmarks.
Watch closelyLower rent burden may reflect older housing stock or income distribution, not necessarily lower housing quality or availability.
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Toledo is about $6,468 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.
Toledo household income$49,724
Chicago household income$77,902
Toledo gross rent$901
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Toledo | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 267,463 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $49,724 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $901 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $114,500 | $334,100 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 4.95% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 21 minutes in Toledo and 36 minutes in Chicago. 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
- Toledo median household income versus Chicago median household income
- Toledo median gross rent versus Chicago median gross rent
- Derived one-way commute estimate differences
- State individual income tax reference presence
What each city wins
Toledo
Rent consumes ~22% of median income, below typical affordability benchmarks.. Watch lower housing costs may reflect tradeoffs in job access, services, or neighborhood conditions not measured in citywide acs data..
Chicago
Median rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability benchmarks.. Watch lower rent burden may reflect older housing stock or income distribution, not necessarily lower housing quality or availability..
Frequently asked questions
How do the populations of Toledo and Chicago compare in the 2024 ACS data?
The 2024 ACS 5-year population estimate for Toledo, Ohio is 267,463, while Chicago, Illinois has a population estimate of 2,711,226.
What are the median gross rents for Toledo and Chicago?
According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, the median gross rent is $901 per month in Toledo and $1,440 per month in Chicago.
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.