

Chicago, IL vs Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis, IN comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 23 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 20. Indianapolis, IN leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.
43 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 20
- Avg. percentile
- 36
- Categories led
- 0
- Wins
- 23
- Avg. percentile
- 45
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Chicago, IL | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,727,758 3rd of 477 | 904,128 16th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $77,902 178th of 434 | $66,219 260th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $334,100 228th of 434 | $224,800 119th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 16.8% 277th of 434 | 15.8% 257th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 103.6 tied 337th of 460 | 95.7 173rd of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $73,380 tied 97th of 460 | $65,180 232nd of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,440 242nd of 434 | $1,156 151st of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 420.4 223rd of 395 | 577.0 285th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- EconomicsIndianapolis, IN · 14 statistics
- Crime & SafetyIndianapolis, IN · 5 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Chicago, IL | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 107.3 tied 429th of 460 | 94.3 tied 90th of 460 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 103.6 tied 337th of 460 | 95.7 173rd of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 33.1 414th of 434 | 24.6 272nd of 434 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $73,380 tied 97th of 460 | $65,180 232nd of 460 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $54,720 tied 113th of 460 | $49,340 247th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 100.5 tied 345th of 460 | 99.1 tied 224th of 460 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 89.1% 320th of 434 | 91.8% 206th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $334,100 228th of 434 | $224,800 119th of 434 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 2,942.4 318th of 395 | 2,057.9 227th of 395 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 112.0 tied 272nd of 460 | 88.9 177th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,440 242nd of 434 | $1,156 151st of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 44.3% 119th of 434 | 34.9% 205th of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $77,902 178th of 434 | $66,219 260th of 434 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 227.7 207th of 395 | 299.8 270th of 395 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 420.4 223rd of 395 | 577.0 285th of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 663.9 372nd of 395 | 398.1 319th of 395 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 16.8% 277th of 434 | 15.8% 257th of 434 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 83.6 tied 91st of 460 | 86.4 111th of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 12.7 350th of 395 | 11.5 343rd of 395 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Chicago, IL or Indianapolis, IN?
- Indianapolis, IN comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 23 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 20. Indianapolis, IN 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 Indianapolis, IN?
- Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Indianapolis, IN has 904,128 (16th of 477).
- How do Chicago, IL and Indianapolis, IN compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Indianapolis, IN $66,219 (260th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
- How do Chicago, IL and Indianapolis, IN compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Indianapolis, IN $224,800 (119th of 434) among US cities. Indianapolis, IN ranks better.
- Where does Chicago, IL beat Indianapolis, IN most clearly?
- Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $73,380 vs $65,180; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $54,720 vs $49,340; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 44.3% vs 34.9%.
- Where does Indianapolis, IN beat Chicago, IL most clearly?
- Indianapolis, IN ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 94.3 vs 107.3; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.7 vs 103.6; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 24.6 vs 33.1.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or Indianapolis, IN.
- Austin, TX vs Chicago, IL
- Charlotte, NC vs Chicago, IL
- Chicago, IL vs Columbus, OH
- Chicago, IL vs Dallas, TX
- Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO
- Chicago, IL vs Detroit, MI
- Chicago, IL vs El Paso, TX
- Chicago, IL vs Fort Worth, TX
- Aurora, CO vs Indianapolis, IN
- Austin, TX vs Indianapolis, IN
- Charlotte, NC vs Indianapolis, IN
- Cincinnati, OH vs Indianapolis, IN
- Columbus, OH vs Indianapolis, IN
- Dallas, TX vs Indianapolis, IN
- Denver, CO vs Indianapolis, IN
- Detroit, MI vs Indianapolis, IN