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Thursday, August 6, 2026

Chicago vs Phoenix

Chicago, IL compared with Phoenix, AZ · 1,445 miles apart

Chicago has 2,731,585 residents to Phoenix’s 1,665,481. Chicago comes out ahead on median rent, bachelor's degree +, price to income. Phoenix does better on median household income, homeownership, average commute.

Chicago, IL Phoenix, AZ
Population 2,731,585 1,665,481
Density (per sq mi) 11,994 3,213
Median household income $77,902 $81,332
Median home value $334,100 $420,700
Median rent $1,440 $1,582
Homeownership 46% 57.3%
Average commute 33.1 min 25.6 min
Median age 35.8 34.9
Bachelor's degree + 44.3% 33.6%
Poverty rate 16.8% 13.7%
Unemployment 8% 5%
Price to income 4.3× 5.2×
Clear days a year 21 126
Days above 90°F 11 166

Highlighted where one city is clearly better on that measure. Population, density, home value and median age carry no highlight — a higher number there is good or bad depending on what you want.

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