Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Vancouver to Phoenix
Both cities use 2024 ACS 5-year data. Vancouver, WA has a slightly higher median income ($81,338 vs $81,332) and home value ($462,400 vs $420,700), but higher rent ($1,702 vs $1,582). Phoenix has a longer commute (28 vs 25 minutes) and applies a 2.50% state income tax in the model, while Vancouver’s tax is excluded per source boundaries. The trade-off involves higher housing costs in Vancouver offset by no modeled tax and shorter commute, versus Phoenix’s lower home value and rent but longer commute and tax inclusion.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → VancouverMoving from Vancouver to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
-$120/mo
Moving to Phoenix saves ~$1,440/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 VERDICTVAN → PHX
61/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$11,024after 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 $1,440 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.
Vancouver household income$81,338
Phoenix household income$81,332
Vancouver gross rent$1,702
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Vancouver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 195,300 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $81,338 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,702 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $462,400 | $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 25 minutes in Vancouver 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 nearly identical
- Vancouver has higher rent and home value
- Phoenix has longer commute and modeled state tax
- Uniform non-housing baseline applies to both
What each city wins
Vancouver
Median rent is 41% of median monthly income.. Watch lower home values than nearby portland but rising rents pressure affordability..
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?
Vancouver, WA has higher median gross rent ($1,702) and median home value ($462,400) than Phoenix ($1,582 rent, $420,700 value), despite nearly identical median incomes around $81,300.
How do commute and tax factors compare between the two cities?
Phoenix has a longer modeled one-way commute (28 minutes) vs Vancouver’s 25 minutes, and includes a 2.50% state income tax in calculations, while Vancouver’s state tax is deliberately excluded per source data boundaries.
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.