Chicago, IL vs Seattle, WA

Seattle, WA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 18. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics.

49 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
18
Avg. percentile
38
Categories led
1
Seattle, WA
Wins
31
Avg. percentile
48
Categories led
1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

StatisticChicago, ILSeattle, WA
Population
2,727,758
3rd of 477
792,909
18th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$123,860
49th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$938,600
394th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
9.88%
113th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
111.1
tied 411th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$91,790
tied 34th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$2,030
tied 369th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
698.7
318th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

  • Crime & SafetyChicago, IL · 5 statistics
  • EconomicsSeattle, WA · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

StatisticChicago, ILSeattle, WA
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
89.1%
320th of 434
94.5%
93rd of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
227.7
207th of 395
975.9
392nd of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$334,100
228th of 434
$938,600
394th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
16.8%
277th of 434
9.88%
113th of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
83.6
tied 91st of 460
92.8
tied 262nd of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
12.7
350th of 395
4.4
232nd of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$77,902
178th of 434
$123,860
49th of 434
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
$1,440
242nd of 434
$2,030
tied 369th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
112.0
tied 272nd of 460
151.3
tied 400th of 460
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
420.4
223rd of 395
698.7
318th of 395
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
33.1
414th of 434
26.0
311th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
100.5
tied 345th of 460
106.8
tied 449th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$54,720
tied 113th of 460
$72,610
tied 24th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)
44.3%
119th of 434
68.4%
37th of 434
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
2,942.4
318th of 395
4,419.6
382nd of 395
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
103.6
tied 337th of 460
111.1
tied 411th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)
107.3
tied 429th of 460
104.0
tied 356th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)
$73,380
tied 97th of 460
$91,790
tied 34th of 460
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)
663.9
372nd of 395
733.9
376th 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 Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA comes out ahead of Chicago, IL on 31 of 49 statistics where one end is better, to 18. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety. Seattle, WA leads on Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Chicago, IL or Seattle, WA?
Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Seattle, WA has 792,909 (18th of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA compare on Median Household Income?
Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Seattle, WA $123,860 (49th of 434) among US cities. Seattle, WA ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Seattle, WA $938,600 (394th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Seattle, WA most clearly?
Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 227.7 vs 975.9; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $938,600; Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 92.8.
Where does Seattle, WA beat Chicago, IL most clearly?
Seattle, WA ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 94.5% vs 89.1%; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 9.88% vs 16.8%; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 4.4 vs 12.7.

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