Chicago, IL vs New York, NY

Chicago, IL comes out ahead of New York, NY on 25 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 18. Chicago, IL leads on Economics. New York, NY leads on 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.

Chicago, IL
Wins
25
Avg. percentile
37
Categories led
1
New York, NY
Wins
18
Avg. percentile
36
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticChicago, ILNew York, NY
Population
2,727,758
3rd of 477
8,546,038
1st of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$80,483
tied 163rd of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$777,600
380th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
17.9%
299th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
112.6
tied 421st of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$86,310
tied 41st of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$1,821
331st of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
656.5
306th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyNew York, NY · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsChicago, IL · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticChicago, ILNew York, NY
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
83.6
tied 91st of 460
127.0
tied 362nd of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
663.9
372nd of 395
183.0
193rd of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
12.7
350th of 395
3.3
188th of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$777,600
380th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
112.0
tied 272nd of 460
148.6
tied 386th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
656.5
306th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$1,821
331st of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
227.7
207th of 395
149.7
129th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.5
tied 345th of 460
105.8
tied 433rd of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
112.6
tied 421st of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,942.4
318th of 395
2,272.9
253rd of 395
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$54,720
tied 113th of 460
$61,430
tied 50th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
89.1%
320th of 434
90.5%
260th of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$86,310
tied 41st of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
44.3%
119th of 434
41.6%
142nd of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
107.3
tied 429th of 460
110.3
tied 455th of 460
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
17.9%
299th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.1
414th of 434
40.3
432nd of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$80,483
tied 163rd 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 New York, NY?
Chicago, IL comes out ahead of New York, NY on 25 of 43 statistics where one end is better, to 18. Chicago, IL leads on Economics. New York, NY 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 New York, NY?
Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and New York, NY has 8,546,038 (1st of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and New York, NY compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), New York, NY $80,483 (tied 163rd of 434) among US cities. New York, NY ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and New York, NY compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), New York, NY $777,600 (380th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat New York, NY most clearly?
Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 127.0; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $777,600; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 112.0 vs 148.6.
Where does New York, NY beat Chicago, IL most clearly?
New York, NY ranks far ahead on Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 183.0 vs 663.9; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.3 vs 12.7; Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 149.7 vs 227.7.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or New York, NY.

All US cities matchups