Best for affordability: Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 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 Iowa City vs Chicago on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 1 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.
Iowa CityChicago
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on affordability, weaker on climate comfort.
Potential dealbreaker: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on rent burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 74,220 | 2,664,452 |
| Population Density | N/A | 12.0k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 669 ft(204 m) | 587 ft(179 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $287,669 | $304,487 |
| Median Rent | $1,371 | $2,191 |
| Median Income | $54,879 | $71,673 |
| Rent Burden | 30% | 37% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 296 days/yr | 280 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 61°F | 59°F |
| Comfort Score | 46/100Mixed | 47/100Mixed |
| Temp Swing | 53°F | 48°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 35"(89 cm) | 44"(112 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 11"(28 cm) | 11"(28 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 39 (Avg)0 days > 100 | AQI 44 (Avg)19 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | N/A | 72 |
| Transit Score | N/A | 100 |
| Safety Score | 0 (Crime Index) | 30 / 100 |
| School Rating | 6/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Flood Risk (FEMA) | N/A | minimalMinimal Risk |
| Fire Risk (FEMA) | N/A | minimalMinimal |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 71%Cable: 94% | Fiber: 33%Cable: 99% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 26 years | 35.3 years |
| College Educated | 60% | 42% |
| Remote Workers | 10% | 16% |
| 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 Iowa City | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Chicago |
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