Living in Chicago, IL
Major city in Illinois
Chicago is a major city in Illinois, home to about 2.7 million people, with 6.7 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Big-city careers and culture with good transit and a lakefront, at a lower cost than the coasts. Cold winters.
Is Chicago a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 20 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
- Mild summers: highs around 79°F
- Easy flying: MDW is 5 mi away
👎 Cons
- Few dog parks: 60 within 9 mi
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Cloudier than most places
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 1.53% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Chicago ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Chicago: common questions
What is the cost of living in Chicago?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $354k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,290 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Chicago?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.53% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Chicago safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.5× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Chicago?
Chicago has cold winters: winter days average around 35°F and summer days around 79°F, with roughly 39″ of snow a year.
Does Chicago get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.59 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Chicago?
The nearest major airport is MDW, about 5 mi away.
How Chicago scores
Each bar compares Chicago with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Chicago right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.