Chicago IL
Illinois · Pop. 2,711,226
Chicago, IL: median household income of $77,902, median rent of $1,440/mo, 8.0% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$77,902
per year
Median Rent
$1,440
per month
Median Home
$334k
home value
Unemployment
8.0%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
16.8%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
33 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Chicago, IL Reality Check"
In Chicago, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $77,902 and median rent is $1,440/month. 46% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $334,100 — that's 4.3× the median income. Employment picture: 8.00% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 16.8%. Average commute: 33 minutes — soul-taxing. Average high 58.4°F, low 44°F. 9 days per year above 90°F. 48.3 inches of annual precipitation. Violent crime: 64.1/100k avg monthly rate (74226 reported); Property crime: 220.9/100k avg monthly rate (255312 reported). The city covers 234.1 sq miles at 11,580 people/sq mile — densely packed. Elevation: 587 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 58/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Weather
/100Average high 58.4°F, low 44°F. 9 days per year above 90°F. 48.3 inches of annual precipitation.
Safety
/100Violent crime: 64.1/100k avg monthly rate (74226 reported); Property crime: 220.9/100k avg monthly rate (255312 reported).