Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $544k less ($304,500 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $834/mo less ($1,314 vs $2,148)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $37,662/yr
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 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Chicago
Households earn $37,662 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$544k less
$304,500 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$37,662
$109,335 vs $71,673/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
58% lower
226.1 vs 539.8 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 60 ✓ 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 (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Orange wins 15. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $848,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Orange, CA are about 1,728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.