Frequently Asked Questions
What Income Reality Check is, how it works, and how your data is handled.
Common questions
Is this financial advice?
No. Income Reality Check is an educational tool that translates public data into qualitative signals. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice, and it does not recommend decisions. Always consult a qualified professional for personal financial guidance.
How often is the data updated?
Data is refreshed quarterly. The current version draws on HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents, BLS OEWS May 2025 wages, KFF 2025 healthcare figures, IRS 2025/2026 tax brackets, and Tax Foundation 2025 state rates, among others.
Why salary bands instead of exact numbers?
Bands (like $60–80K) keep the focus on patterns rather than false precision. Two people earning the exact same salary can have very different situations, so a band better reflects the qualitative nature of the signals.
Why 37 cities?
These 37 metros span every U.S. region and a wide range of cost structures, tax environments, and housing markets — enough to make meaningful comparisons without overwhelming the data with thinly-sourced smaller markets.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No personal data is collected or sent to a server. Anything you save — snapshots, milestones, profile preferences — stays in your browser via localStorage on your own device. Clearing your browser data removes it.
Can I share my results?
Yes. The share feature generates an image of your result locally in your browser. No personal data leaves your device — only salary bands and city names appear on the shareable card.