Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 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
Lynn
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($304,500 vs $442,800)
6% less violent crime than Lynn
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,511)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
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 5.7%)
Lynn, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$1,627
$71,673 vs $70,046/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
6% lower
539.8 vs 574.6 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$138k less
$304,500 vs $442,800
Lynn
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 36.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 14 and Lynn 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $442,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Lynn, MA are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.