Chicago vs Melrose Park
Chicago, Illinois versus Melrose Park, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Melrose Park 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 | Melrose Park |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $64k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $55k |
| Home Value | $305k | $249k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 2.23% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.51% | 16.54% |
| Unemployment | 8.2% | 5.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4 in | 38.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8 in | 42.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 88 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 72.2 | 76.6 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 3190/100k | 1260/100k |
| Property Crime | 3133/100k | 1714/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 | 25,177 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 34.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.71 | 0.68 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.05 |
| Political Leaning | D+51 | D+51 |
| White (%) | 32.7% | 16.2% |
| Black (%) | 28.4% | 3.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.0% | 79.0% |
| Asian (%) | 6.9% | 0.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 0.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 34 min | 27 min |
| Walkability | 13.4/20 | 14.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 3 mi | 5 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.9% | 84.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.37 | 208.92 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
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 Melrose Park more affordable?
- Melrose Park has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Chicago's $55k and Melrose Park's $55k. Median rent is $1k in Chicago versus $1k in Melrose Park.
- Is Chicago or Melrose Park safer?
- Melrose Park has the lower violent crime rate. Chicago reports 3190/100k and Melrose Park reports 1260/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Chicago or Melrose Park?
- The median home value is $305k in Chicago and $249k in Melrose Park, so homes are more affordable in Melrose Park.