Population
Chicago
2,707,648
Houston
2,300,419
Median Income
Chicago
$75,134
Houston
$62,894
Home Value
Chicago
$315,200
Houston
$253,400
Rent
Chicago
$1,380
Houston
$1,313
Crime Rate
Chicago
5.40
Houston
11.48
Cost of Living
Chicago
131.3
Houston
116.4
Avg Temp
Chicago
51°F
Houston
70°F
Unemployment
Chicago
7.9%
Houston
6.7%
At a Glance
0
Chicago
0
Houston
Chicago leads in 5 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Houston leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDHouston has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,323 vs $1,581 in Chicago (20% lower). Houston scores 103.6 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 120.0 in Chicago. Houston has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,573 vs $1,781 in Chicago (13% lower).
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSHouston has a single-family homes of 47.9% compared to 29.2% in Chicago. Chicago has a median home value of $315,200 vs $253,400 in Houston (24% higher). Houston has a median property tax of $4,003 vs $4,814 in Chicago (20% lower).
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — Chicago leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSChicago has a work from home of 18.3% compared to 11.7% in Houston. Chicago: 1,502,336 vs Houston: 1,219,957 for labor force. Chicago has a median household income of $75,134 vs $62,894 in Houston (19% higher).
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Chicago leads
Source: FBI UCRChicago has a assault rate (per 1k) of 1.28 compared to 7.87 in Houston. Houston has a violent crime clearance of 31.9% compared to 9.5% in Chicago. Chicago has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 2.95 compared to 6.45 in Houston.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoHouston averages 62°F, about 18°F cooler than Chicago. Chicago: 36.2" vs Houston: 50.4" for annual rainfall. Houston averages 70°F, about 19°F cooler than Chicago.
Avg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education — Chicago leads
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauChicago has a bachelor's degree or higher of 30.6% compared to 23.9% in Houston. Chicago has a high school diploma or higher of 45.7% compared to 38.3% in Houston.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSChicago has a population of 2,707,648, about 1.2x the size of Houston (2,300,419). Houston skews younger with a median age of 34.3 vs 35.7.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Chicago
Houston
Healthcare — Chicago leads
Source: CMS Hospital CompareChicago: 5 vs Houston: 4 for with emergency services.
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — Chicago leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSChicago has a public transit of 19.3% compared to 3.3% in Houston. Chicago has a bicycle of 1.4% compared to 0.4% in Houston. Chicago has a work from home of 18.3% compared to 11.7% in Houston.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports