Chicago vs Mount Prospect
Chicago, Illinois versus Mount Prospect, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Mount Prospect edges out Chicago on overall objective livability (43 vs 36 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Chicago | Mount Prospect |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $101k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $55k |
| Home Value | $305k | $368k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 2.22% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.51% | 16.06% |
| Unemployment | 8.2% | 3.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4 in | 32.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8 in | 38.4 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 84 days | 94 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 72.2 | 82.5 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 3190/100k | 958/100k |
| Property Crime | 3133/100k | 962/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 | 56,191 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 41.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.71 | 0.51 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.00 |
| Political Leaning | D+51 | D+51 |
| White (%) | 32.7% | 64.0% |
| Black (%) | 28.4% | 2.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.0% | 15.9% |
| Asian (%) | 6.9% | 13.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 3.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 34 min | 28 min |
| Walkability | 13.4/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 3 mi | 6 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.9% | 91.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.37 | 88.98 |
| 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 Mount Prospect more affordable?
- Mount Prospect has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Chicago's $55k and Mount Prospect's $55k. Median rent is $1k in Chicago versus $1k in Mount Prospect.
- Is Chicago or Mount Prospect safer?
- Mount Prospect has the lower violent crime rate. Chicago reports 3190/100k and Mount Prospect reports 958/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Chicago or Mount Prospect?
- The median home value is $305k in Chicago and $368k in Mount Prospect, so homes are more affordable in Chicago.