Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,729)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $16,793/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
56% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $16,793 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$16,793
$88,466 vs $71,673/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
56% lower
235.7 vs 539.8 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
23.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 9 and San Tan Valley wins 14. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.