Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL scores 67/100 (Good) on Your Area Score. It is a major U.S. city with a moderately affordable cost profile, a more challenging safety profile, and a manageable climate. Whether it is a good place to live will depend heavily on your budget, neighborhood choice, and priorities.
Based on affordability, safety, climate, infrastructure, schools, grocery access, and risk.
Pros
- Infrastructure
- Grocery Access
Cons
- Safety
- Risk
At a Glance
Why Chicago, IL scored 67/100
Top strengths
- Grocery Access is one of the strongest categories for this city.
- Infrastructure also helps lift the overall score.
- Chicago, IL may appeal most to budget-conscious movers, people who want convenience.
Main trade-offs
- Safety is one of the weaker categories here.
- Risk may be a deciding factor depending on your priorities.
- Neighborhood choice still matters because citywide averages never tell the full story.
Category Scores
This city sits in a middle affordability tier, median gross rent is about $1,314, median home value is about $304,500, and the larger metro scale usually supports a deeper job base and more amenities. See cheaper cities in IL.
This city has a more challenging safety profile. Violent crime is above average at 539.8 per 100k residents, and property crime is above average at 3,472.4 per 100k. Careful neighborhood research is strongly recommended before relocating. Source: FBI UCR 2024. Compare safer cities in IL.
The climate in Chicago, IL is generally four-season. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Larger cities usually score better here because they support more services, access, and everyday convenience.
School quality is mixed to solid overall. Some districts and attendance zones perform better than others, so neighborhood-level research is important.
Grocery access is a major strength, with a broad mix of chains, specialty stores, and convenient everyday options across much of the city.
Living in Chicago, IL
This section turns the score into day-to-day reality: housing, comfort, family fit, convenience, and the main trade-offs you would notice after moving.
Cost, housing, and daily setup
This city sits in a middle affordability tier, median gross rent is about $1,314, median home value is about $304,500, and the larger metro scale usually supports a deeper job base and more amenities.
- Median rent: $1,314
- Median home value: $304,500
- Best fit: budget-conscious movers, people who want convenience
Bottom line
Chicago, IL is currently rated Good with a MoveScore of 67/100. Its strongest areas are Grocery Access and Infrastructure, while the biggest trade-offs are Safety and Risk.
Climate and comfort
The climate in Chicago, IL is generally four-season. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Risk and drawbacks
This area carries more meaningful environmental risk, especially around winter weather and neighborhood-level variation. Neighborhood selection and property type matter more than usual here.
Schools and family fit
School quality is mixed to solid overall. Some districts and attendance zones perform better than others, so neighborhood-level research is important.
Errands and convenience
Grocery access is a major strength, with a broad mix of chains, specialty stores, and convenient everyday options across much of the city.
Entertainment & Things To Do
Chicago, IL offers strong big-event access, with multiple nearby venues that can support sports, concerts, and major weekend activity.
Best Fit For
- Budget-conscious movers who still want solid city access.
- People who want strong convenience, errands, and day-to-day access.
- People who value dining, shopping, events, and a more active city feel.
Less Ideal For
- People who are highly sensitive to neighborhood-level safety variation.
- People seeking a quieter, lower-density feel with less traffic and big-city activity.
- People who want fewer weather, insurance, or location-specific risk trade-offs.
Neighborhood Reality
Chicago, IL is not uniform. Some areas perform significantly better than others across safety, schools, and overall livability. Where you choose to live within the city will have a major impact on your experience.
What stands out
- Guaranteed Rate Field — about 2.7 miles away
- United Center — about 3.1 miles away
- Soldier Field — about 3.9 miles away
- Wrigley Field — about 7.8 miles away
Relocation takeaway
People who care about weekend options usually want to know whether a city feels quiet, convenient, or event-driven. Chicago, IL currently leans more toward regional convenience and big-event access.
Crime & Safety Reality
This is a practical interpretation of the city-level safety score. It should be treated as a broad relocation signal, not a substitute for neighborhood-level research.
What the current score suggests
Chicago, IL has a more challenging city-level safety profile, so block-by-block research matters more than usual before renting or buying. This area carries more meaningful environmental risk, especially around winter weather and neighborhood-level variation. Neighborhood selection and property type matter more than usual here.
What movers should do next
- Compare neighborhoods, not just city averages.
- Check commute routes after dark, not only daytime convenience.
- Look for trade-offs between affordability, access, and perceived safety.
Traffic & Commute Reality
Traffic quality is not just about how many roads exist. It is about whether the city gives you enough route options to handle daily commuting, errands, and regional travel.
How travel may feel here
Chicago, IL has strong regional access and is built around moving people efficiently across a larger metro area. A few strong road connections help with local and regional travel, but commute quality will still depend heavily on where you live and where you work.
Why this matters
Cities with stronger access routes usually feel easier for airport runs, cross-town errands, and commuting to job centers. That does not eliminate congestion, but it does improve flexibility when one corridor slows down.
Primary Access & Connectivity
These are some of the main road connections near Chicago, IL. They help show how easy it is to move around locally, reach job centers, and make longer regional trips.
Interstate 94
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Interstate 290
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Interstate 90
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Nearby Stadiums & Event Venues
Nearby venues can make a city more appealing for sports fans, concerts, and large events, but they can also increase traffic and activity on event days.
Guaranteed Rate Field
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
United Center
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Soldier Field
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Wrigley Field
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.