Which is better, Chicago, IL or San Diego, CA?

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 12. San Diego, CA 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 San Diego, CA?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).

How do Chicago, IL and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.

How do Chicago, IL and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat San Diego, CA most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 174.2; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $906,700; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,440 vs $2,313.

Where does San Diego, CA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1.7 vs 12.7; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 89.1%; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 2,942.4.

Chicago, IL vs San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 12. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety.

39 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: 12
Avg. percentile: 37
Categories led: 0

San Diego, CA

Wins: 27
Avg. percentile: 52
Categories led: 1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	San Diego, CA
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	1,410,522 8th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$108,077 68th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$906,700 391st of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	11.0% 131st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	111.9 tied 417th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$79,060 tied 54th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$2,313 395th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	372.3 191st of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetySan Diego, CA · 5 statistics
EconomicsEven · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	San Diego, CA
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	174.2 tied 453rd of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	1.7 119th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	95.2% 69th of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	1,539.0 157th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	23.5 244th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$906,700 391st of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$2,313 395th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	179.3 tied 434th of 460
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	11.0% 131st of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$108,077 68th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	297.6 275th of 395
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	145.4 117th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	99.6 tied 265th of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	111.9 tied 417th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$79,060 tied 54th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$58,690 tied 70th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	372.3 191st of 395
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	51.0% 87th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	108.0 tied 437th 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 San Diego, CA?: San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 12. San Diego, CA 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 San Diego, CA?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat San Diego, CA most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 174.2; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $906,700; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,440 vs $2,313.
Where does San Diego, CA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1.7 vs 12.7; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.2% vs 89.1%; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 2,942.4.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or San Diego, CA.

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