Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 28 of 50 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Chicago, IL leads on Economics. San Francisco, CA leads on Crime & Safety.

50 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
22
Avg. percentile
38
Categories led
1
San Francisco, CA
Wins
28
Avg. percentile
45
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticChicago, ILSan Francisco, CA
Population
2,727,758
3rd of 477
812,530
17th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$140,970
38th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$1.39M
411th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
11.2%
135th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
115.6
tied last of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$2,476
400th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
486.2
250th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • EconomicsChicago, IL · 14 statistics
  • Crime & SafetySan Francisco, CA · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticChicago, ILSan Francisco, CA
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
83.6
tied 91st of 460
172.6
tied 439th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$1.39M
411th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
12.7
350th of 395
3.4
195th of 395
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
89.1%
320th of 434
93.0%
150th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
112.0
tied 272nd of 460
194.7
tied 438th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$2,476
400th of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
227.7
207th of 395
465.5
340th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
11.2%
135th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$140,970
38th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
115.6
tied last of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$54,720
tied 113th of 460
$74,260
tied 10th of 460
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.5
tied 345th of 460
106.2
tied 435th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$100,220
tied 10th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
663.9
372nd of 395
374.1
314th of 395
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
44.3%
119th of 434
60.3%
59th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
486.2
250th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.1
414th of 434
30.4
390th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
107.3
tied 429th of 460
108.5
tied 441st of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,942.4
318th of 395
2,932.4
317th of 395
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 Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 28 of 50 statistics where one end is better, to 22. Chicago, IL leads on Economics. San Francisco, 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 Francisco, CA?
Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and San Francisco, CA has 812,530 (17th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), San Francisco, CA $140,970 (38th of 434) among US cities. San Francisco, CA ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), San Francisco, CA $1.39M (411th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat San Francisco, CA most clearly?
Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 172.6; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $1.39M; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 112.0 vs 194.7.
Where does San Francisco, CA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?
San Francisco, CA ranks far ahead on Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 3.4 vs 12.7; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 93.0% vs 89.1%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 11.2% vs 16.8%.

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