Chicago, IL vs Dallas, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | ChicagoChicago, IL | DallasDallas, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Average | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | High Autonomy | |
| Strategic | High Risk | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At $124,227 a year for a single person, Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX show a stark contrast in comfortable income, with Chicago's figure being 2.2 times higher than Dallas's $57,371, placing Chicago in the 92nd percentile and Dallas in the 55th. 2023 Census figures also show a similar gap for a family of four, where Chicago requires $182,614 compared to Dallas's $84,336, again a 2.2 times difference. The state and local tax burden further diverges, with Chicago at 12.9% (87th percentile) and Dallas at 8.6% (10th percentile), a 4.3 percentage point difference.
Commuting patterns differ notably, with Chicago's average commute of 33.5 minutes (95th percentile) being 8 minutes longer than Dallas's 26 minutes (67th percentile). Healthcare access scores show Chicago at 96 out of 100 (73rd percentile) versus Dallas at 85 out of 100 (51st percentile), an 11-point gap. Traffic safety also varies, with Dallas recording 18 traffic deaths per 100,000 people (57th percentile) compared to Chicago's 10 (23rd percentile), a 90% higher rate, and Chicago receiving an A+ traffic safety grade against Dallas's B-.
Geographic positioning reveals Chicago is 678 miles from a coastline (81st percentile), which is 2.9 times farther than Dallas's 236 miles (47th percentile). While median home values are relatively close at $315,200 for Chicago and $295,300 for Dallas, and median rents are nearly identical at $1,380 and $1,403 respectively, the comfortable income requirements and tax burdens create substantial financial differences between the two cities.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 11660th pctl | 11458th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $315,20057th pctl | $295,30054th pctl | Median home value: Chicago, IL $315,200; Dallas, TX $295,300; Chicago is 7% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,38063rd pctl | $1,40364th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $75,13453rd pctl | $67,76043rd pctl | Median household income: Chicago, IL $75,134; Dallas, TX $67,760; Chicago is 11% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $124,22792nd pctl | $57,37155th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Chicago, IL $124,227; Dallas, TX $57,371; Chicago is 2.2 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $182,61492nd pctl | $84,33655th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Chicago, IL $182,614; Dallas, TX $84,336; Chicago is 2.2 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Dallas needs about
$73,700
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 116 vs 114). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.3%93rd pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | Unemployment: Chicago, IL 5.3%; Dallas, TX 4.2%; Chicago is 1.1 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.2%26th pctl | -0.6%11th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Chicago, IL +0.2%; Dallas, TX -0.6%; Chicago is 0.8 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $48,14874th pctl | $44,13866th pctl | Per-capita income: Chicago, IL $48,148; Dallas, TX $44,138; Chicago is 9% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.8%73rd pctl | 17.2%74th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 33.5 min95th pctl | 26 min67th pctl | Average commute: Chicago, IL 33.5 min; Dallas, TX 26 min; Chicago is 8 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.3%79th pctl | 14.0%67th pctl | Work from home: Chicago, IL 18.3%; Dallas, TX 14.0%; Chicago is 4.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 37174th pctl | 57789th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Chicago, IL 371; Dallas, TX 577; Dallas is 55% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,92191st pctl | 3,07793rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Chicago, IL 2,921; Dallas, TX 3,077; Dallas is 5% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Chicago, IL A+; Dallas, TX B-; Chicago is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Power grid: Chicago, IL A+; Dallas, TX A-; Chicago is graded higher. |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Dallas, TX; broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Chicago, IL.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Chicago, IL D; Dallas, TX B+; Dallas is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Chicago, IL 0 mi; Dallas, TX 2 mi; Dallas is 5.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 276 mi40th pctl | 337 mi51st pctl | Distance to international border: Chicago, IL 276 mi; Dallas, TX 337 mi; Dallas is 22% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 678 mi81st pctl | 236 mi47th pctl | Distance to coastline: Chicago, IL 678 mi; Dallas, TX 236 mi; Chicago is 2.9 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,707,648100th pctl | 1,299,553100th pctl | Population: Chicago, IL 2,707,648; Dallas, TX 1,299,553; Chicago is 2.1 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 11,88999th pctl | 3,82685th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Chicago, IL 11,889; Dallas, TX 3,826; Chicago is 3.1 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.731st pctl | 33.416th pctl | Median age: Chicago, IL 35.7; Dallas, TX 33.4; Chicago is 2.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3%71st pctl | 37.4%62nd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Chicago, IL 43.3%; Dallas, TX 37.4%; Chicago is 5.9 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.334th pctl | 2.449th pctl | Average household size: Chicago, IL 2.3; Dallas, TX 2.4; Dallas is 5% larger. |
More about Chicago's residents · Dallas's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Chicago and Dallas
- Median rent: $1,380 in Chicago, $1,403 in Dallas
- Median home value: $315,200 in Chicago, $295,300 in Dallas
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 116 in Chicago, 114 in Dallas
- Median household income: $75,134 in Chicago, $67,760 in Dallas
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $182,614 in Chicago, $84,336 in Dallas
- Unemployment: 5.3% in Chicago, 4.2% in Dallas
- Average commute: 33.5 min in Chicago, 26 min in Dallas
- Violent crime per 100k: 371 in Chicago, 577 in Dallas
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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