Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $10,308 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 7.2%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Providence, RI
Pros
49% less violent crime than Chicago
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.2%)
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,314)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $10,308/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$10,308
$71,673 vs $61,365/yr
Providence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
49% lower
276.7 vs 539.8 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$12k less
$293,000 vs $304,500
Providence
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 11 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $293,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Providence, RI are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.