Chicago vs Niles
Chicago, Illinois versus Niles, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Niles edges out Chicago on overall objective livability (44 vs 36 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Chicago | Niles |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $76k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $55k |
| Home Value | $305k | $336k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.55% | 1.76% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.51% | 15.72% |
| Unemployment | 8.2% | 6.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4 in | 41.3 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 | 91 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 72.2 | 71.3 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 3190/100k | 473/100k |
| Property Crime | 3133/100k | 2407/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 | 30,637 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 47.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.71 | 0.51 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | D+51 | D+51 |
| White (%) | 32.7% | 62.4% |
| Black (%) | 28.4% | 2.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.0% | 12.0% |
| Asian (%) | 6.9% | 21.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 2.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 34 min | 28 min |
| Walkability | 13.4/20 | 15.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 3 mi | 6 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.9% | 83.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 3.37 | 231.75 |
| 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 Niles more affordable?
- Niles has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Chicago's $55k and Niles's $55k. Median rent is $1k in Chicago versus $1k in Niles.
- Is Chicago or Niles safer?
- Niles has the lower violent crime rate. Chicago reports 3190/100k and Niles reports 473/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
- The median home value is $305k in Chicago and $336k in Niles, so homes are more affordable in Chicago.