Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Downey leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $375k less ($304,500 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,814)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Downey by $12,563/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.6%)
Downey, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Households earn $12,563 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$375k less
$304,500 vs $679,000
Downey
Median Income
$12,563
$84,236 vs $71,673/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
15% lower
460.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Downey leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and Downey wins 13. 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 Chicago to Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $679,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Downey, CA are about 1,737 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.