Chicago, IL vs New York City, NY
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Aug 2026
Report card
| Category | ChicagoChicago, IL | New York CityNew York City, NY | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Average | Average | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
678 mi is the distance to coastline for Chicago, IL, versus 4 mi for New York City, NY, the largest gap among the metrics compared here. In 2023 Census figures, the cost of living index stands at 116 for Chicago and 198 for New York City, placing Chicago in the 60th percentile and New York City in the 90th percentile. Median home value shows a similar spread: $315,200 in Chicago versus $751,700 in New York City, a 2.4× difference. Median rent also runs higher in New York City at $1,779 compared to $1,380 in Chicago.
Job growth over the past year diverges sharply, with New York City posting +6.0% against Chicago’s +0.2%, a 5.8-point gap that puts New York City in the 99th percentile and Chicago in the 26th. Unemployment rates are close, at 5.1% for New York City and 5.3% for Chicago. The air quality index reads 54 in Chicago versus 39 in New York City, with Chicago in the 90th percentile and New York City in the 30th. Healthcare access scores also differ, with Chicago at 96/100 and New York City at 77/100, a 19-point gap. Average household size is 2.5 in New York City and 2.3 in Chicago.
Violent crime per 100,000 people is 659 in New York City and 371 in Chicago, a 78% difference, while property crime runs higher in Chicago at 2,921 versus 2,296. Average commute stretches to 40.6 minutes in New York City and 33.5 minutes in Chicago. Population density is 28,342 per square mile in New York City versus 11,889 in Chicago.
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 | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 11660th pctl | 19890th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Chicago, IL 116; New York City, NY 198; New York City is 71% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $315,20057th pctl | $751,70092nd pctl | Median home value: Chicago, IL $315,200; New York City, NY $751,700; New York City is 2.4 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,38063rd pctl | $1,77984th pctl | Median rent: Chicago, IL $1,380; New York City, NY $1,779; New York City is 29% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $75,13453rd pctl | $79,71359th pctl | Median household income: Chicago, IL $75,134; New York City, NY $79,713; New York City is 6% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $124,22792nd pctl | $137,61093rd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Chicago, IL $124,227; New York City, NY $137,610; New York City is 11% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $182,61492nd pctl | $202,28693rd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Chicago, IL $182,614; New York City, NY $202,286; New York City is 11% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Chicago, IL B+; New York City, NY F; Chicago is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in New York City needs about
$128,000
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 116 vs 198). 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 | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.3%93rd pctl | 5.1%91st pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.2%26th pctl | +6.0%99th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Chicago, IL +0.2%; New York City, NY +6.0%; New York City is 5.8 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $48,14874th pctl | $50,77679th pctl | Per-capita income: Chicago, IL $48,148; New York City, NY $50,776; New York City is 5% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.8%73rd pctl | 17.4%75th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 33.5 min95th pctl | 40.6 min99th pctl | Average commute: Chicago, IL 33.5 min; New York City, NY 40.6 min; New York City is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.3%79th pctl | 15.0%70th pctl | Work from home: Chicago, IL 18.3%; New York City, NY 15.0%; Chicago is 3.3 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 | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 37174th pctl | 65992nd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Chicago, IL 371; New York City, NY 659; New York City is 78% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,92191st pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Chicago, IL 2,921; New York City, NY 2,296; Chicago is 27% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York City, NY | 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 |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | 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. | Healthcare access: Chicago, IL A+; New York City, NY A-; Chicago is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| 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: broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Chicago, IL; tap water isn't available for New York City, NY.
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 | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Chicago, IL D; New York City, NY F; Chicago is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState 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. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState 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 | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 5 mi4th pctl | Nearest large city: Chicago, IL 0 mi; New York City, NY 5 mi; New York City is 12.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Chicago, IL C+; New York City, NY C; Chicago is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 276 mi40th pctl | 262 mi36th pctl | Distance to international border: Chicago, IL 276 mi; New York City, NY 262 mi; Chicago is 5% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 678 mi81st pctl | 4 mi5th pctl | Distance to coastline: Chicago, IL 678 mi; New York City, NY 4 mi; Chicago is 675 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,707,648100th pctl | 8,516,202100th pctl | Population: Chicago, IL 2,707,648; New York City, NY 8,516,202; New York City is 3.1 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 11,88999th pctl | 28,342100th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Chicago, IL 11,889; New York City, NY 28,342; New York City is 2.4 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.731st pctl | 3850th pctl | Median age: Chicago, IL 35.7; New York City, NY 38; New York City is 2.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3%71st pctl | 41.0%68th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Chicago, IL 43.3%; New York City, NY 41.0%; Chicago is 2.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.334th pctl | 2.559th pctl | Average household size: Chicago, IL 2.3; New York City, NY 2.5; New York City is 8% larger. |
More about Chicago's residents · New York City's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | ChicagoChicago, IL | New York CityNew York City, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+17 | D+22 |
| 2024 presidential | D +28.0 pts | D +40.0 pts |
Full politics data: Chicago · New York City
Moving between Chicago and New York City
- Median rent: $1,380 in Chicago, $1,779 in New York City
- Median home value: $315,200 in Chicago, $751,700 in New York City
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 116 in Chicago, 198 in New York City
- Median household income: $75,134 in Chicago, $79,713 in New York City
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $182,614 in Chicago, $202,286 in New York City
- Unemployment: 5.3% in Chicago, 5.1% in New York City
- Average commute: 33.5 min in Chicago, 40.6 min in New York City
- Violent crime per 100k: 371 in Chicago, 659 in New York City
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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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