What it's like to live in Chicago
Chicago is a major city in Illinois with a highly educated workforce, schools with smaller class sizes than the national average, and public transit that many commuters actually use. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Chicago deals with crime rates above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Below-average hospital ratings
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 39" per year
How Chicago compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Chicago
Based on Chicago's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,880
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,600 a year
- 46% of Chicago renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$66,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,410
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,440/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,440 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $334,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $334,100 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 28% above US
420 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2956/100k · Chicago Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 27% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.1 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% take public transit; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
33 hospitals
There are 33 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 23% above US
44% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 44% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
652 public schools inside the boundary
There are 652 public schools inside the boundary and 216 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (11 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Chicago's strongest points are a highly educated workforce and public transit that many commuters actually use; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,440/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), people who would rather not drive, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Chicago
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