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

San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 46 statistics where one end is better, to 19. San Jose, CA 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 San Jose, CA?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and San Jose, CA has 984,378 (13th of 477).

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

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), San Jose, CA $146,427 (37th of 434) among US cities. San Jose, CA ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), San Jose, CA $1.23M (408th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

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

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 156.7; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $1.23M; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 112.0 vs 211.9.

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

San Jose, CA ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.4% vs 89.1%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2.4 vs 12.7; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 8.12% vs 16.8%.

Chicago, IL vs San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 46 statistics where one end is better, to 19. San Jose, CA leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

46 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: 19
Avg. percentile: 38
Categories led: 0

San Jose, CA

Wins: 27
Avg. percentile: 47
Categories led: 2

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	San Jose, CA
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	984,378 13th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$146,427 37th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$1.23M 408th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	8.12% 76th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	110.4 tied 397th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$119,230 tied 1st of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$2,669 407th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	503.4 261st of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetySan Jose, CA · 5 statistics
EconomicsSan Jose, CA · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	San Jose, CA
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	156.7 tied 401st of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	95.4% 65th of 434
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	2.4 149th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	8.12% 76th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$1.23M 408th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	211.9 tied last of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$2,669 407th of 434
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$146,427 37th of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$84,050 tied 1st of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	336.8 292nd of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$119,230 tied 1st of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	27.3 337th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	110.4 tied 397th of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	2,372.1 266th of 395
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	503.4 261st of 395
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	105.2 tied 374th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	518.2 347th of 395
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	100.3 tied 309th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	47.3% 103rd 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 San Jose, CA?: San Jose, CA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 27 of 46 statistics where one end is better, to 19. San Jose, CA 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 San Jose, CA?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and San Jose, CA has 984,378 (13th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and San Jose, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), San Jose, CA $146,427 (37th of 434) among US cities. San Jose, CA ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and San Jose, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), San Jose, CA $1.23M (408th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat San Jose, CA most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 156.7; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $1.23M; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 112.0 vs 211.9.
Where does San Jose, CA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: San Jose, CA ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 95.4% vs 89.1%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2.4 vs 12.7; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 8.12% vs 16.8%.

More matchups

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

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