Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,461)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
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 South Fulton by $5,815/yr
South Fulton, GA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Chicago
Homes cost $62k less ($242,200 vs $304,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 32°F
Households earn $5,815 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
South Fulton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Income
$5,815
$77,488 vs $71,673/yr
South Fulton
Violent Crime
13% lower
470.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$62k less
$242,200 vs $304,500
South Fulton
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and South Fulton 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $242,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and South Fulton, GA are about 591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.