Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($304,500 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $848/mo less ($1,314 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $40,044/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 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,044 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$313k less
$304,500 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$40,044
$111,717 vs $71,673/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
44% lower
301.4 vs 539.8 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 12 and Tracy wins 11. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($71,673 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Tracy, CA are about 1,803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.