Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO

Denver, CO comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 34 of 53 statistics where one end is better, to 19. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Denver, CO leads on Economics.

53 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
19
Avg. percentile
37
Categories led
1
Denver, CO
Wins
34
Avg. percentile
48
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticChicago, ILDenver, CO
Population
2,727,758
3rd of 477
746,590
19th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$94,718
98th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$616,000
354th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
11.2%
137th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
105.8
tied 360th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$81,690
tied 46th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$1,831
333rd of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
875.7
355th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyChicago, IL · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsDenver, CO · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticChicago, ILDenver, CO
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
227.7
207th of 395
583.5
368th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
89.1%
320th of 434
92.9%
156th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
875.7
355th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
11.2%
137th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.1
414th of 434
24.9
285th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$616,000
354th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
107.3
tied 429th of 460
101.0
tied 311th of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
112.0
tied 272nd of 460
146.9
tied 380th of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
12.7
350th of 395
5.7
261st of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.5
tied 345th of 460
99.4
tied 246th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$1,831
333rd of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$94,718
98th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$54,720
tied 113th of 460
$62,320
tied 42nd of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,942.4
318th of 395
4,103.5
374th of 395
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
83.6
tied 91st of 460
87.9
tied 153rd of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$81,690
tied 46th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
44.3%
119th of 434
56.5%
71st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
105.8
tied 360th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
663.9
372nd of 395
756.4
380th of 395
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 Denver, CO?
Denver, CO comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 34 of 53 statistics where one end is better, to 19. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Denver, CO leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Chicago, IL or Denver, CO?
Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Denver, CO has 746,590 (19th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Denver, CO compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Denver, CO $94,718 (98th of 434) among US cities. Denver, CO ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Denver, CO compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Denver, CO $616,000 (354th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Denver, CO most clearly?
Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 583.5; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 875.7; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $616,000.
Where does Denver, CO beat Chicago, IL most clearly?
Denver, CO ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 92.9% vs 89.1%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 16.8%; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 24.9 vs 33.1.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or Denver, CO.

All US cities matchups