Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $17,368 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,402)
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than New Haven
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($236,500 vs $304,500)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chicago by $17,368/yr
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$17,368
$71,673 vs $54,305/yr
New Haven
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$68k less
$236,500 vs $304,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 13 and New Haven wins 10. 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 Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $236,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and New Haven, CT are about 763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.