At a Glance
Median Income
$75,134
$48,148 per capita
Home Value
$315,200
Zillow: $334,030
Median Rent
$1,380/mo
29.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
540/100K
3,490/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
43.3%
86.8% high school+
Unemployment
7.9%
13.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
32.9%
12.1% smoking rate
How Chicago Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Chicago's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Chicago a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Chicago residents earn a median household income of $75,134 , which is 0% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $48,148. The unemployment rate stands at 7.9% (119% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 137,804 business establishments, including 12,631 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Chicago is $315,200 , 12% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $334,030. Median rent is $1,380/month, with 29.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1952.
Safety & Crime
Chicago reports 540 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 42% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,490/100K. The murder rate is 17.5/100K.
Education
43.3% of adults in Chicago hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(28% above the national average).
86.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Chicago has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 34.4 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 54.
Data Overview
People
Population2,707,648
Median Age35.7 yrs
Density11,889/mi²
Male / Female49% / 52%
Foreign Born20.7%
Veterans2.9%
Economy
B
Median Income$75,134
Per Capita$48,148
Unemployment7.9%
Poverty13.0%
County GDP$546,441M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,672
Housing
A
Home Value$315,200
Rent$1,380
Ownership45.5%
Zillow$334,030
Housing Units1,258,704
Rent Burden29.0%
Crime
F
Violent540/100K
Property3,490/100K
Murder17.5/100K
Assault128/100K
Burglary295/100K
Health
Obesity32.9%
Diabetes12.4%
Smoking12.1%
Heart Disease5.1%
Premature Death8,536/100K
Climate
Avg Temp52°F
Rain34.4 in/yr
AQI54 (Moderate)
Elevation584 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+43.3%
High School+86.8%
Graduate+18.0%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 28% / D 70%
Commute34 min
Broadband87.4%
Internet Speed174 Mbps
EV Stations350
Libraries188
Did You Know?
The median home in Chicago was built in 1952.
19.3% of residents use public transit to commute.
18.3% work from home.
The nearest airport is Chicago Midway International (5 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.505 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
11.9% of the population has a disability.
20.7% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 174 Mbps.
There are 12,631 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 365 fatal vehicle crashes.