Which is better, Chicago, IL or Columbus, OH?

Columbus, OH comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 14. Columbus, OH leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Chicago, IL or Columbus, OH?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Columbus, OH has 944,402 (15th of 477).

How do Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Columbus, OH $66,082 (264th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

How do Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Columbus, OH $252,900 (162nd of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat Columbus, OH most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 95.5; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 382.1; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $73,380 vs $67,270.

Where does Columbus, OH beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

Columbus, OH ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.6 vs 107.3; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 21.5 vs 33.1; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 93.6% vs 89.1%.

Chicago, IL vs Columbus, OH

Columbus, OH comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 14. Columbus, OH leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

45 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Chicago, IL

Wins: 14
Avg. percentile: 35
Categories led: 0

Columbus, OH

Wins: 31
Avg. percentile: 55
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Columbus, OH
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	944,402 15th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$66,082 264th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$252,900 162nd of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	18.1% 301st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	95.5 167th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$67,270 196th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,295 192nd of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	374.1 193rd of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EconomicsColumbus, OH · 14 statistics
Crime & SafetyColumbus, OH · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Columbus, OH
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	93.6 tied 4th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	21.5 169th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	93.6% 127th of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	95.5 296th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	95.5 167th of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	98.9 tied 208th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	382.1 313th of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	87.9 176th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$67,270 196th of 460
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$66,082 264th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$252,900 162nd of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$51,340 181st of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	38.2% 172nd of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,295 192nd of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	8.9 309th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	2,502.1 283rd of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	480.5 341st of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	374.1 193rd of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	18.1% 301st of 434

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Chicago, IL or Columbus, OH?: Columbus, OH comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 45 statistics where one end is better, to 14. Columbus, OH leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Chicago, IL or Columbus, OH?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Columbus, OH has 944,402 (15th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Columbus, OH $66,082 (264th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Columbus, OH $252,900 (162nd of 434) among US cities. Columbus, OH ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Columbus, OH most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 95.5; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 382.1; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $73,380 vs $67,270.
Where does Columbus, OH beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: Columbus, OH ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.6 vs 107.3; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 21.5 vs 33.1; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 93.6% vs 89.1%.

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