Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 North Las Vegas leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
North Las Vegas
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°F
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,479)
Homes cost $36k less ($304,500 vs $340,200)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
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
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
28% less violent crime than Chicago
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,479/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$36k less
$304,500 vs $340,200
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
28% lower
388.9 vs 539.8 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
24.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,479⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $71,774 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 60.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 264,022 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 11 and North Las Vegas wins 12. 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 North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $340,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and North Las Vegas, NV are about 1,512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.