Chicago vs Evanston
Chicago, Illinois versus Evanston, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Evanston edges out Chicago on overall objective livability (42 vs 36 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Chicago | Evanston |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $93k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $55k |
| Home Value | $305k | $455k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 1.96% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.51% | 17.48% |
| Unemployment | 8.2% | 6.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4 in | 40.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8 in | 33.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 72.2 | 62.9 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 3190/100k | 1191/100k |
| Property Crime | 3133/100k | 2440/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 | 77,181 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.71 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.94 |
| Political Leaning | D+51 | D+51 |
| White (%) | 32.7% | 58.4% |
| Black (%) | 28.4% | 16.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.0% | 11.3% |
| Asian (%) | 6.9% | 9.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 5.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 34 min | 29 min |
| Walkability | 13.4/20 | 16.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 3 mi | 12 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.9% | 92.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.37 | 117.39 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Chicago or Evanston more affordable?
- Evanston has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Chicago's $55k and Evanston's $55k. Median rent is $1k in Chicago versus $2k in Evanston.
- Is Chicago or Evanston safer?
- Evanston has the lower violent crime rate. Chicago reports 3190/100k and Evanston reports 1191/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Chicago or Evanston?
- The median home value is $305k in Chicago and $455k in Evanston, so homes are more affordable in Chicago.