Which is better, Chicago, IL or Philadelphia, PA?

Chicago, IL comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 32 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 20. Chicago, IL 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 Philadelphia, PA?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Philadelphia, PA has 1,567,280 (7th of 477).

How do Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Philadelphia, PA $61,953 (306th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

How do Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Philadelphia, PA $243,100 (147th of 434) among US cities. Philadelphia, PA ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat Philadelphia, PA most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 114.4; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 822.7; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $77,902 vs $61,953.

Where does Philadelphia, PA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

Philadelphia, PA ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.8 vs 107.3; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $243,100 vs $334,100; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 102.6 vs 103.6.

Chicago, IL vs Philadelphia, PA

Chicago, IL comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 32 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 20. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety and 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: 32
Avg. percentile: 36
Categories led: 2

Philadelphia, PA

Wins: 20
Avg. percentile: 31
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Philadelphia, PA
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	1,567,280 7th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$61,953 306th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$243,100 147th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	21.4% 362nd of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	102.6 tied 297th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$71,730 tied 121st of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,397 227th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	822.7 348th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyChicago, IL · 5 statistics
EconomicsChicago, IL · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Philadelphia, PA
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	114.4 tied 357th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	96.8 tied 264th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	822.7 348th of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$61,953 306th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	21.4% 362nd of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$243,100 147th of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	35.4% 198th of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	297.8 268th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	4,307.4 377th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	103.1 tied 392nd of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	102.6 tied 297th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$71,730 tied 121st of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	1,022.3 390th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,397 227th of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	31.7 403rd of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	14.3 358th of 395
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$54,310 tied 123rd of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	113.1 tied 280th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	89.1% 321st 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 Philadelphia, PA?: Chicago, IL comes out ahead of Philadelphia, PA on 32 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 20. Chicago, IL 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 Philadelphia, PA?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Philadelphia, PA has 1,567,280 (7th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Philadelphia, PA $61,953 (306th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Philadelphia, PA $243,100 (147th of 434) among US cities. Philadelphia, PA ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Philadelphia, PA most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 114.4; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 822.7; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $77,902 vs $61,953.
Where does Philadelphia, PA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: Philadelphia, PA ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 96.8 vs 107.3; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $243,100 vs $334,100; Price Level (All Items) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 102.6 vs 103.6.

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