Which is better, Chicago, IL or Dallas, TX?

Dallas, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 30 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Chicago, IL or Dallas, TX?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Dallas, TX has 1,336,440 (9th of 477).

How do Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Dallas, TX $70,518 (223rd of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Dallas, TX $320,700 (223rd of 434) among US cities. Dallas, TX ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat Dallas, TX most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 90.7; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 419.2; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 574.7.

Where does Dallas, TX beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

Dallas, TX ranks far ahead on Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 25.7 vs 33.1; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 102.8 vs 107.3; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 90.9% vs 89.1%.

Chicago, IL vs Dallas, TX

Dallas, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 30 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety.

52 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: 22
Avg. percentile: 36
Categories led: 1

Dallas, TX

Wins: 30
Avg. percentile: 38
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Dallas, TX
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	1,336,440 9th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$70,518 223rd of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$320,700 223rd of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	16.7% 275th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	103.1 tied 301st of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$70,630 tied 134th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,472 tied 251st of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	574.7 284th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyChicago, IL · 5 statistics
EconomicsEven · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Dallas, TX
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	90.7 tied 233rd of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	419.2 328th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	25.7 305th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	102.8 tied 331st of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	574.7 284th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	90.9% 253rd of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	99.7 tied 269th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	38.2% 171st of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$70,518 223rd of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$70,630 tied 134th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$51,440 tied 148th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	103.1 tied 301st of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	117.9 tied 293rd of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	10.4 332nd of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	838.0 385th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	3,053.1 327th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,472 tied 251st of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$320,700 223rd of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	16.7% 275th 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 Dallas, TX?: Dallas, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 30 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Chicago, IL or Dallas, TX?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Dallas, TX has 1,336,440 (9th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Dallas, TX $70,518 (223rd of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Dallas, TX $320,700 (223rd of 434) among US cities. Dallas, TX ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Dallas, TX most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 90.7; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 419.2; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 574.7.
Where does Dallas, TX beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: Dallas, TX ranks far ahead on Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 25.7 vs 33.1; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 102.8 vs 107.3; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 90.9% vs 89.1%.

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