Which is better, Chicago, IL or Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix, AZ?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).

How do Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 93.3; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 44.3% vs 33.6%; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 694.5.

Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 107.3; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 25.6 vs 33.1; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,029.7 vs 2,942.4.

Chicago, IL vs Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Phoenix, AZ 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: 21
Avg. percentile: 36
Categories led: 0

Phoenix, AZ

Wins: 31
Avg. percentile: 50
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Phoenix, AZ
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	1,677,947 5th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$81,332 158th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$420,700 287th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	13.7% 199th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	103.3 tied 321st of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$69,630 tied 156th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,582 277th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	694.5 315th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyPhoenix, AZ · 5 statistics
EconomicsPhoenix, AZ · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Phoenix, AZ
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	95.0 tied 97th of 460
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	93.3 tied 268th of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	25.6 301st of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	33.6% 225th of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	2,029.7 223rd of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	694.5 315th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	91.4% 230th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	13.7% 199th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	350.3 305th of 395
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	7.5 294th of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$69,630 tied 156th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$420,700 287th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$51,380 tied 165th of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	104.0 tied 397th of 460
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	121.2 tied 319th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	265.8 240th of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,582 277th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$81,332 158th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	103.3 tied 321st of 460

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 Phoenix, AZ?: Phoenix, AZ comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 52 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix, AZ?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Phoenix, AZ has 1,677,947 (5th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $81,332 (158th of 434) among US cities. Phoenix, AZ ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Phoenix, AZ $420,700 (287th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Phoenix, AZ most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 93.3; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 44.3% vs 33.6%; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 694.5.
Where does Phoenix, AZ beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: Phoenix, AZ ranks far ahead on Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 95.0 vs 107.3; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 25.6 vs 33.1; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,029.7 vs 2,942.4.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or Phoenix, AZ.

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