Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Winston-Salem to Chicago
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Chicago has higher median household income ($77,902 vs $59,268) and higher median gross rent ($1,440 vs $1,087) than Winston-Salem. Chicago’s longer commute (36 vs 23 minutes) offsets some income advantage, while its 4.95% state income tax applies uniformly in the model. Winston-Salem offers lower housing costs and shorter commutes but with lower income and no modeled state tax. The trade-off centers on whether Chicago’s income premium justifies its higher housing burden, longer commute, and tax exposure relative to Winston-Salem’s more affordable, shorter-commute profile.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Chicago → Winston-SalemMoving from Winston-Salem to Chicago
Median Rent Impact
+$353/mo
Moving to Chicago costs ~$4,236 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.0%
~$4,950 more state tax on a $100k salary in Illinois.
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 VERDICTWIN → CHI
47/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$2,604after 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, Winston-Salem is about $4,236 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.
Winston-Salem household income$59,268
Chicago household income$77,902
Winston-Salem gross rent$1,087
Chicago gross rent$1,440
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Winston-Salem | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 252,037 | 2,711,226 |
| Median household income | $59,268 | $77,902 |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $1,440 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $233,800 | $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 23 minutes in Winston-Salem 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
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax rate
What each city wins
Winston-Salem
Median rent is 22% of median income, below common affordability thresholds.. Watch lower housing costs may reflect tradeoffs in income, job access, or neighborhood conditions not captured in citywide averages..
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 housing costs compare between the two cities relative to income?
Winston-Salem’s median gross rent is 25% lower than Chicago’s ($1,087 vs $1,440), while its median household income is 24% lower ($59,268 vs $77,902), resulting in a slightly more favorable rent-to-income ratio in Winston-Salem despite lower absolute income.
What is the combined impact of commute and housing costs on monthly affordability?
Winston-Salem residents save $353 monthly on rent versus Chicago and gain 13 minutes each way on commute, translating to meaningful time and cost savings that partially offset the $18,634 annual income difference, though Chicago’s higher income may still support greater discretionary spending after housing and transit.
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.