Which is better, Chicago, IL or El Paso, TX?

El Paso, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 25 of 35 statistics where one end is better, to 10. El Paso, TX leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Chicago, IL or El Paso, TX?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and El Paso, TX has 684,495 (24th of 477).

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

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), El Paso, TX $59,745 (327th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), El Paso, TX $184,500 (76th of 434) among US cities. El Paso, TX ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat El Paso, TX most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $73,380 vs $51,870; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $54,720 vs $39,510; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 44.3% vs 28.1%.

Where does El Paso, TX beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

El Paso, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 107.3; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 89.9 vs 103.6; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.2 vs 100.5.

Chicago, IL vs El Paso, TX

El Paso, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 25 of 35 statistics where one end is better, to 10. El Paso, TX leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

35 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: 10
Avg. percentile: 37
Categories led: 0

El Paso, TX

Wins: 25
Avg. percentile: 60
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	El Paso, TX
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	684,495 24th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$59,745 327th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$184,500 76th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	18.4% 308th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	89.9 50th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$51,870 448th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,073 108th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	287.0 145th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyEl Paso, TX · 5 statistics
EconomicsEl Paso, TX · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	El Paso, TX
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	93.8 tied 39th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$51,870 448th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$39,510 450th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	89.9 50th of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	96.2 tied 66th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	1,327.0 114th of 395
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	71.2 70th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	28.1% 296th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	23.4 241st of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	3.8 204th of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$184,500 76th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$59,745 327th of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	112.3 81st of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,073 108th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	264.0 254th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	287.0 145th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	18.4% 308th of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	82.6 79th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	89.3% 312th 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 El Paso, TX?: El Paso, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 25 of 35 statistics where one end is better, to 10. El Paso, TX leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Chicago, IL or El Paso, TX?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and El Paso, TX has 684,495 (24th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and El Paso, TX compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), El Paso, TX $59,745 (327th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and El Paso, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), El Paso, TX $184,500 (76th of 434) among US cities. El Paso, TX ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat El Paso, TX most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $73,380 vs $51,870; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $54,720 vs $39,510; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 44.3% vs 28.1%.
Where does El Paso, TX beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: El Paso, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 107.3; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 89.9 vs 103.6; Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.2 vs 100.5.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or El Paso, TX.

All US cities matchups