Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Spring Valley
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($304,500 vs $375,200)
Rent averages $209/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,523)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 106°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
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
83% less violent crime than Chicago
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $375,200
Higher rents — median is $1,523/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$2,332
$71,673 vs $69,341/yr
Chicago
Median Home Value
$71k less
$304,500 vs $375,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
83% lower
94.1 vs 539.8 per 100k
Spring Valley
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
24.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $375,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,523⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 220,114 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Chicago wins 9 and Spring Valley wins 13. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $375,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Spring Valley, NV are about 1,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.