Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,426)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 New Braunfels by $14,154/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.8%)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
71% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,154 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$14,154
$85,827 vs $71,673/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
71% lower
156.4 vs 539.8 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$14k less
$290,800 vs $304,500
New Braunfels
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 7 and New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $290,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.