Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 16 of 22 categories
Chicago
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Fishers
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,478)
Homes cost $35k less ($304,500 vs $339,000)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $54,875/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 2.5%)
Fishers, IN
Pros
Households earn $54,875 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (2.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$35k less
$304,500 vs $339,000
Fishers
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Median Income
$54,875
$126,548 vs $71,673/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
86% lower
72.9 vs 539.8 per 100k
Fishers
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
2.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fishers
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 26.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fishers leads 16 of 22 categories. Chicago wins 6 and Fishers wins 16. 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $339,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Fishers, IN are about 158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.