Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
35% less violent crime than Lancaster
Homes cost $64k less ($304,500 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $262/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,576)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 98°F
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
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
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
Violent Crime
35% lower
539.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$64k less
$304,500 vs $368,800
Lancaster
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 14 and Lancaster wins 9. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $368,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Lancaster, CA are about 1,716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.