Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia 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
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
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
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Visalia, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Households earn $3,985 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$12k less
$304,500 vs $316,600
Visalia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Income
$3,985
$75,658 vs $71,673/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
19% lower
435.3 vs 539.8 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Visalia
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 9 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($71,673 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Visalia, CA are about 1,729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.