Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Chicago
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $49,586 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $86k less ($304,500 vs $390,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $49,586/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$49,586
$121,259 vs $71,673/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
80% lower
106.4 vs 539.8 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 81.0°F
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$86k less
$304,500 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $304,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,314 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $71,673 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 34.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Chicago wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $304,500 median home), income ($121,259 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Chicago, IL are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.