Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($304,500 vs $411,700)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,452)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Cons
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 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Gresham, OR
Pros
24% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$2,236
$71,673 vs $69,437/yr
Chicago
Median Home Value
$107k less
$304,500 vs $411,700
Gresham
Violent Crime
24% lower
410.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 81.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and Gresham 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $411,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Gresham, OR are about 1,742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.