Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($304,500 vs $418,300)
16% less violent crime than Rialto
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,553)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (8.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
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
Median income trails Rialto by $9,077/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Households earn $9,077 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 8.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Violent Crime
16% lower
539.8 vs 641.7 per 100k
Chicago
Median Home Value
$114k less
$304,500 vs $418,300
Chicago
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
8.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$9,077
$80,750 vs $71,673/yr
Rialto
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 13 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $418,300 median home), income ($71,673 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Rialto, CA are about 1,694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.