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Illinois city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Chicago?

What it costs to live in Chicago, and how it compares with other Illinois cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

9

161st best value in Illinois

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Illinois cities.

Overall livability

26

154th overall in Illinois

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Chicago is home to about 2,742,119 people. A typical home runs $277,600 and a household earns around $65,800, a price-to-income ratio of 4.2. Among Illinois's largest cities, it ranks 161st for value and 154th overall.

Chicago at a glance

Median home price

$277,600

159th in IL of 163

Median rent

$1,209/mo

Median household income

$65,800

Home price to income

4.2x

Unemployment

8.4%

140th in IL of 163

School rating

5/10

111th in IL of 163

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IL of 163

Walk score

100/100

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‹ See all top Illinois cities ranked  ยท  Illinois state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Illinois only. Updated 2026.