Compare Any Two U.S. Cities Side by Side
Drop two pins anywhere on the map, then get an instant head-to-head on cost of living, safety, schools, climate, and more.
💰 Cost of Living
Median income, home values, rent, and purchasing power — see where your dollar goes further.
🏫 Schools & Safety
School quality ratings and crime indices from official government data, not crowdsourced estimates.
🌤 Climate & Lifestyle
Average temperatures, sunshine hours, and demographic data to help you find your fit.
Top 10 U.S. Cities
Pick a category to see the top 10 cities for it.
| City | Population | Median income | Median home | Crime index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 8,622,467 | $76,607 | $732,100 | 151 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 3,881,041 | $76,244 | $822,600 | 143 |
| Chicago, IL | 2,721,914 | $71,673 | $304,500 | 151 |
| Houston, TX | 2,296,253 | $60,440 | $235,000 | 263 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,609,456 | $72,092 | $340,200 | 171 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,593,208 | $57,537 | $215,500 | 230 |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,445,662 | $59,593 | $198,000 | 182 |
| San Diego, CA | 1,383,987 | $98,657 | $783,300 | 97 |
| Dallas, TX | 1,300,642 | $63,985 | $270,700 | 168 |
| San Jose, CA | 1,001,176 | $136,010 | $1,149,600 | 145 |
Crime index: 100 = U.S. average · lower is safer.
Browse by State
Hover to zoom in on a state, click it to explore every city profile.
Prefer a list? Browse all states
The Free Way to Compare Cities
Side By City is a free city comparison tool that lets you compare two cities side by side before you move. Run a city comparison on cost of living, compare city crime rates, school quality, median home prices, rent, income, weather, and demographics — for any of 31,000+ U.S. cities and towns. Whether you're weighing Portland vs Seattle, moving from one city to another across the country, or just curious how your hometown stacks up, pick two places on the map above or browse popular city comparisons. Every number comes from official sources — the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — not user surveys.