Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($304,500 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Households earn $4,485 more per year on average
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,400)
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
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$4,485
$71,673 vs $67,188/yr
Chicago
Median Home Value
$274k less
$304,500 vs $578,900
South Gate
Violent Crime
3% lower
525.6 vs 539.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 15 and South Gate wins 8. 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 Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $578,900 median home), income ($71,673 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and South Gate, CA are about 1,740 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.