Which is better, Chicago, IL or Washington, DC?

Chicago, IL comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 27 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Chicago, IL 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 Washington, DC?

Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).

How do Chicago, IL and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.

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

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.

Where does Chicago, IL beat Washington, DC most clearly?

Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 106.7; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $737,100; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 746.8.

Where does Washington, DC beat Chicago, IL most clearly?

Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $109,870 vs $77,902; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 91.2% vs 89.1%; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $54,720.

Chicago, IL vs Washington, DC

Chicago, IL comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 27 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Chicago, IL leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.

48 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: 27
Avg. percentile: 38
Categories led: 2

Washington, DC

Wins: 21
Avg. percentile: 37
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Washington, DC
Population	2,727,758 3rd of 477	698,733 22nd of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	746.8 329th of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyChicago, IL · 5 statistics
EconomicsChicago, IL · 14 statistics

Biggest differences

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

Statistic	Chicago, IL	Washington, DC
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	83.6 tied 91st of 460	106.7 tied 329th of 460
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$334,100 228th of 434	$737,100 376th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	420.4 223rd of 395	746.8 329th of 395
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$77,902 178th of 434	$109,870 65th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	112.0 tied 272nd of 460	151.1 tied 390th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,440 242nd of 434	$1,954 354th of 434
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	89.1% 320th of 434	91.2% 241st of 434
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$54,720 tied 113th of 460	$71,060 tied 30th of 460
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	44.3% 119th of 434	64.2% 48th of 434
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$73,380 tied 97th of 460	$91,930 tied 24th of 460
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	107.3 tied 429th of 460	104.8 tied 362nd of 460
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	103.6 tied 337th of 460	108.9 tied 384th of 460
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	227.7 207th of 395	193.3 172nd of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	16.8% 277th of 434	15.4% 241st of 434
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	33.1 414th of 434	30.0 384th of 434
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	100.5 tied 345th of 460	102.3 tied 371st of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	12.7 350th of 395	16.6 368th of 395
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	2,942.4 318th of 395	3,070.2 329th of 395
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	663.9 372nd of 395	650.5 371st 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 Washington, DC?: Chicago, IL comes out ahead of Washington, DC on 27 of 48 statistics where one end is better, to 21. Chicago, IL 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 Washington, DC?: Chicago, IL has a population of 2,727,758 (3rd of 477 US cities) and Washington, DC has 698,733 (22nd of 477).
How do Chicago, IL and Washington, DC compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Chicago, IL $77,902 (178th of 434), Washington, DC $109,870 (65th of 434) among US cities. Washington, DC ranks better.
How do Chicago, IL and Washington, DC compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Chicago, IL $334,100 (228th of 434), Washington, DC $737,100 (376th of 434) among US cities. Chicago, IL ranks better.
Where does Chicago, IL beat Washington, DC most clearly?: Chicago, IL ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 83.6 vs 106.7; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $334,100 vs $737,100; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 420.4 vs 746.8.
Where does Washington, DC beat Chicago, IL most clearly?: Washington, DC ranks far ahead on Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $109,870 vs $77,902; Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 91.2% vs 89.1%; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $71,060 vs $54,720.

More matchups

Other comparisons with Chicago, IL or Washington, DC.

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