Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX

Houston, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 25. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Houston, TX leads on Economics.

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
25
Avg. percentile
36
Categories led
1
Houston, TX
Wins
27
Avg. percentile
33
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticChicago, ILHouston, TX
Population
2,727,758
3rd of 477
2,419,191
4th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$64,813
276th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$277,800
188th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
19.9%
333rd of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
98.6
tied 224th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
886.1
356th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyChicago, IL · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsHouston, TX · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticChicago, ILHouston, TX
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.5
tied 345th of 460
95.6
tied 47th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
83.6
tied 91st of 460
95.3
tied 290th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
227.7
207th of 395
484.6
344th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
886.1
356th of 395
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
107.3
tied 429th of 460
100.6
tied 300th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$54,720
tied 113th of 460
$49,410
tied 242nd of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
98.6
tied 224th of 460
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$64,813
276th of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$67,610
tied 186th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.1
414th of 434
27.2
336th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
44.3%
119th of 434
36.6%
187th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
19.9%
333rd of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,942.4
318th of 395
3,807.2
360th of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$277,800
188th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
112.0
tied 272nd of 460
104.5
tied 234th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
89.1%
320th of 434
90.1%
284th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$1,361
tied 215th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
663.9
372nd of 395
520.3
350th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
12.7
350th of 395
11.3
340th 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 Houston, TX?
Houston, TX comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 25. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Houston, TX 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 Houston, TX?
Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Houston, TX has 2,419,191 (4th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Houston, TX compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Houston, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Houston, TX most clearly?
Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 95.3; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 484.6; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 886.1.
Where does Houston, TX beat Chicago, IL most clearly?
Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.6 vs 100.5; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 100.6 vs 107.3; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 98.6 vs 103.6.

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