Best for affordability: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent burden and rent.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Chicago vs New York on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 54 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
ChicagoNew York
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on affordability, weaker on sunshine.
Potential dealbreaker: New York, New York
New York, New York needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on rent burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 2,664,452 | 8,804,190 |
| Population Density | 12.0k /sq mi | 28.7k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 587 ft(179 m) | 33 ft(10 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $304,487 | $797,328 |
| Median Rent | $2,191 | $3,643 |
| Median Income | $71,673 | $76,607 |
| Rent Burden | 37% | 57% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 212 days/yr | 291 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 59°F | 63°F |
| Comfort Score | 47/100Mixed | 59/100Good |
| Temp Swing | 48°F | 44°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 44"(112 cm) | 54"(137 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 11"(28 cm) | 7"(18 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 50 (Avg)19 days > 100 | AQI 52 (Avg)35 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 72 | 90 |
| Transit Score | 100 | 100 |
| Safety Score | 30 / 100 | 0 (Crime Index) |
| School Rating | 7.3/10 | 5.1/10 |
| Flood Risk (FEMA) | minimalMinimal Risk | minimalMinimal Risk |
| Fire Risk (FEMA) | minimalMinimal | minimalMinimal |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 33%Cable: 99% | Fiber: 37%Cable: 90% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 35.3 years | 37.5 years |
| College Educated | 42% | 40% |
| Remote Workers | 16% | 13% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Chicago | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in New York |
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