Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $12,361 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 107°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
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Yuma
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($186,500 vs $304,500)
22% less violent crime than Chicago
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,314)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $12,361/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$12,361
$71,673 vs $59,312/yr
Yuma
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
22% lower
423.6 vs 539.8 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$118k less
$186,500 vs $304,500
Yuma
Summer Heat
25.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $186,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Yuma, AZ are about 1,603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.