Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 17 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($304,500 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $626/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,940)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $40,592/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 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,592 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$292k less
$304,500 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$40,592
$112,265 vs $71,673/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
59% lower
219.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 17 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 6 and Roseville wins 17. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $596,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Roseville, CA are about 1,774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.