Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA are two vast US cities each offering unique lifestyles, varied opportunities, and diverse cultures. The comparison between the two takes into account various aspects ranging from crime and safety to health care. This balanced analysis aims to provide prospective residents and visitors an understanding of what each city has to offer, and how they compare on key parameters.
Distance between
Chicago, IL and
Philadelphia, PA : 666.0 miles
Chicago's population is larger by 71%. Its population has decreased by 199,461 people (6.9%) since 2000. The population of Philadelphia has grown by 58,701 people (3.9%) during that time.
Both Chicago and Philadelphia have crime rates that exceed the national average, with Chicago regularly making national headlines for its crime rate. However, crime is not uniformly distributed and several neighborhoods in both cities are considered relatively safe. It's important to research specific neighborhoods when considering moving to or visiting these cities. Safety measures and community programs are in place to mitigate crime in both cities.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 3,411 registered sex offenders living in Chicago and 2,776 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Chicago is 793 to 1; the ratio in Philadelphia is 565 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in Chicago than in Philadelphia.
Cost of Living
The cost of living is generally higher in Chicago compared to Philadelphia. Whether it's general expenses, housing, groceries, or entertainment, residents in Chicago can expect to spend more. However, salaries tend to be higher in Chicago, which can help offset the higher cost of living.
Income Tax
Illinois, where Chicago is located, has a flat state income tax rate of 4.95%, while Pennsylvania, home to Philadelphia, has a much lower flat rate of 3.07%.
Property Tax
Property taxes are significantly higher in Chicago than in Philadelphia. The average property tax rate in Chicago is 2.1% of the property's value, compared to Philadelphia's rate of 0.99%.
Sales Tax
Chicago has a higher city and state sales tax than Philadelphia. The combined sales tax rate in Chicago is 10.25%, one of the highest in the nation, while Philadelphia's combined rate is 8%.
Income
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Estimated median household income
$66,576
$52,899
Estimated per capita income
$43,217
$32,707
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
104.8
105.4
If you make $50,000 in Chicago, you will have to make $50,286 in Philadelphia to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Chicago is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, offering beautiful lake views and beachfront activities during the summer. Philadelphia lies between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, providing its own natural beauty.
Both cities have robust education systems with a mix of public and private schools and several renowned higher education institutions. Philadelphia is home to the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, while Chicago boasts the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Chicago has a more diversified economy with strengths in industries like financial services, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. On the other hand, Philadelphia's economy is heavily reliant on health care, education, and biotechnology.
Biggest Employers
The biggest employers in Chicago include Abbott Laboratories, Boeing, and United Airlines. In Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania, Comcast, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia top the list.
There were 414 building permits issued in Chicago in 2012 (200 more than in 2011) compared to 1,553 building permits issued in Philadelphia in 2012 (1108 more than in 2011).
In Chicago (Cook County), 74.0% voted for Democrats and 24.6% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Philadelphia (Philadelphia County), 85.2% voted for Democrats and 14.0% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
2020
74.6%
81.2%
24.1%
17.9%
1.3%
0.9%
2016
74.4%
82.3%
20.9%
15.3%
4.7%
2.4%
2012
74.0%
85.2%
24.6%
14.0%
1.4%
0.8%
2008
76.4%
83.2%
22.9%
16.4%
0.7%
0.4%
2004
70.3%
80.6%
29.2%
19.4%
0.6%
0.0%
2000
69.0%
80.4%
28.8%
18.1%
2.3%
1.5%
1996
66.8%
77.4%
26.7%
16.0%
6.5%
6.6%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
CATHOLIC CHURCH
37.5%
24.8%
11.1%
8.8%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.9%
2.6%
1.8%
3.1%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
1.0%
0.6%
4.3%
3.1%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
1.0%
2.2%
5.4%
9.9%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.9%
0.0%
3.6%
0.5%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.4%
3.8%
1.6%
6.7%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.4%
0.8%
1.8%
3.8%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.4%
0.4%
1.9%
1.7%
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.0%
0.4%
0.5%
1.4%
Weather
The weather in Chicago, known as the 'Windy City', is characterized by cold winters and hot, humid summers. Philadelphia on the other hand has a more moderate climate, with milder winters and summers, making it more comfortable for those not accustomed to extreme temperatures.
Weather and climate
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Temperature - Average
50.3°F
54.8°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
75.6%
69.9%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
31%
34%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
85%
82%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
54%
48%
Precipitation - Yearly average
37.8 in
45.7 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
77.6 in
45.1 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
14%
15.4%
Sunshine amount - Average
56.8%
59.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
33%
18%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
68%
63%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
35%
45%
Wind speed - Average
10.7 mph
10 mph
Average climate in Chicago, Illinois
Average climate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
Chicago
Philadelphia
2018
97
99
0.26
0.37
14.3
10.7
26.2
24.3
N/A
N/A
23.6
17.2
9.3
9.2
1.7
0.9
2017
95
105
0.25
0.32
14.3
11.0
26.4
25.3
N/A
0.004
25.1
22.3
8.7
8.9
1.4
1.0
2016
95
99
0.21
0.30
14.9
13.6
26.5
25.1
N/A
0.007
17.3
23.2
9.1
9.5
0.8
1.4
2015
92
110
0.51
0.34
15.0
15.8
25.4
22.6
N/A
0.007
23.3
23.9
10.5
10.5
0.9
1.8
2014
101
105
0.45
0.34
18.0
16.8
25.1
23.1
N/A
0.027
28.9
23.0
10.7
11.7
1.3
2.2
2013
100
105
0.37
0.27
18.3
16.7
23.8
22.5
N/A
0.029
30.3
31.0
11.1
10.5
1.0
1.5
2012
112
111
0.36
0.29
18.8
17.8
25.7
23.0
N/A
0.040
31.3
14.6
12.1
11.7
1.7
1.5
2011
101
113
0.38
0.28
18.6
19.9
24.8
24.3
N/A
0.039
21.9
16.9
12.8
9.8
2.4
1.9
2010
103
116
0.37
0.30
20.4
20.1
25.4
23.0
N/A
0.009
22.2
21.7
12.9
12.2
1.4
2.6
2009
106
95
0.29
0.32
20.0
18.9
22.4
19.7
0.025
0.011
20.1
18.0
12.9
11.9
1.4
2.9
2008
108
112
0.32
0.30
22.8
19.8
22.8
19.1
0.026
0.010
22.7
16.8
12.5
13.9
1.8
3.8
2007
125
128
0.34
0.42
23.6
21.6
23.9
23.3
0.027
0.019
25.9
17.5
13.1
12.3
2.2
4.2
2006
95
112
0.31
0.52
23.0
21.4
21.1
22.5
0.029
0.016
22.0
18.3
N/A
13.1
2.6
4.2
2005
110
108
0.55
0.58
23.5
24.4
23.3
20.8
0.027
0.018
26.2
19.7
N/A
N/A
3.3
5.0
2004
85
102
0.83
0.58
23.9
24.1
20.3
18.9
0.032
0.023
23.4
19.1
N/A
N/A
4.1
5.2
2003
99
103
0.69
0.62
25.1
23.8
20.0
19.7
0.030
0.034
23.3
19.6
N/A
N/A
3.1
5.4
2002
114
128
0.83
0.56
26.5
26.8
20.8
21.2
0.029
0.035
24.4
18.3
N/A
N/A
3.3
4.9
2001
107
119
0.83
0.63
27.3
27.9
19.2
20.0
0.031
0.014
28.5
20.6
N/A
N/A
4.3
5.6
2000
104
111
0.88
0.68
24.8
26.7
17.6
19.0
0.046
0.034
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.2
5.5
Natural disasters
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
145.8%
96.6%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
136.9%
34.4%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
20%
22%
Transportation
Chicago has a more extensive public transportation system than Philadelphia, featuring the CTA trains and buses. Philadelphia's SEPTA system also provides comprehensive coverage but is not as extensive as Chicago's.
Transport
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Amtrak stations
1
2
Amtrak stations nearby
3
3
FAA registered aircraft
1
347
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
12
2
Means of transportation to work
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Bicycle
1.6%
2%
Bus
8%
11.7%
Carpooled
8.3%
8.7%
Car alone
62.3%
60%
Railroad
0.2%
0.7%
Streetcar
6.8%
4.2%
Subway
3.5%
2.8%
Taxicab
0.8%
0.2%
Walked
5.9%
7.8%
Average travel time to work
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Average
36.9 min
34.3 min
Other means
33.1 min
28.2 min
Public transportation
44.8 min
45.6 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
86.7%
86.4%
In 2 person carpool
9.3%
10.2%
In 3 person carpool
2.4%
2%
In 4 person carpool
0.9%
0.9%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.4%
0.3%
In 7+ person carpool
0.3%
0.2%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
The real estate market in Philadelphia is generally more affordable than in Chicago. Both cities have a mixture of old and new developments, but Chicago's market is more expensive on average.
Neighborhoods
Both cities have a wide variety of neighborhoods to choose from, each with their own unique character. In Chicago, neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Hyde Park are popular, while in Philadelphia, areas like Center City and Fishtown are favored.
Houses and residents
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Houses
1,272,191
733,015
Average household size (people)
2.5
2.5
Median year apartment built
1955
1953
Median year house/condo built
1951
1947
Length of stay in the house since moving in
14.7 years
16 years
Houses occupied
1,139,537 (89.6%)
660,921 (90.2%)
Houses occupied by owners
530,977 (46.6%)
348,935 (52.8%)
Houses occupied by renters
608,560 (53.4%)
311,986 (47.2%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,546
$1,301
Median monthly housing costs
$1,356
$1,096
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$355,671
$260,453
Estimated median house or condo value
$297,300
$220,700
Median numbers of rooms
4.8
5.5
Median number of rooms in apartments
4
4.2
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.8
6.2
Median house price - detached houses
$357,707
$292,974
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$345,352
$357,727
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$477,161
$264,854
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$439,589
$442,314
Median house price - mobile homes
$472,017
$163,609
Median house price - occupied boats, rvs, vans etc.
$235,959
$93,218
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$518,665
$239,791
Median house price - All housing units
$388,874
$256,324
Median house age
70
73
Renting percentage
55.1%
45.9%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
5,601.1
5,426.1
House value disparities
35.6%
38.4%
Household income disparities
48.4%
49.5%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$110,175
$86,108
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$72,495
$44,075
Housing units without a mortgage
6,624 (1.9%)
8,484 (4%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
17,661 (5.1%)
18,029 (8.5%)
Housing units with a mortgage
339,523 (98.1%)
202,880 (96%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
808 (0.2%)
1,280 (0.6%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
25,416 (7.3%)
22,966 (10.9%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
12
15
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
2
3
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2.5%
3.7%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
1.8%
3.3%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Chicago
Philadelphia
One, detached
26.4%
9.9%
One, attached
3.5%
55.9%
Two
13.3%
7.4%
3 or 4
14.0%
6.7%
5 to 9
11.0%
2.8%
10 to 19
4.6%
2.5%
20 to 49
6.5%
3.1%
50 or more
20.6%
11.2%
Mobile homes
0.2%
0.3%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.0%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
67,964
29,270
State government workers
41,316
16,901
Unpaid family workers
4,164
570
Industries and Occupations
Chicago is a major hub for finance, insurance, health services, and food processing. On the other hand, Philadelphia's leading industries include health services, education, and biotechnology.
Both cities have world-class healthcare facilities. Chicago's healthcare system is renowned worldwide, and Philadelphia is a leading city for medical research and has numerous top-rated hospitals and medical schools.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Chicago's infrastructure is generally more modern and extensive than Philadelphia's, boasting an impressive skyline dotted with architectural marvels. Philadelphia, despite having a rich historical backdrop, has faced challenges related to aging infrastructure.
Infrastructure
Type
Chicago
Philadelphia
Hospitals
86
91
TV stations
22
24
Arenas or stadiums
7
7
Bank branches located here
740
329
Bank institutions located here
99
46
Main business address for public companies
110
47
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
22
1
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Chicago
Philadelphia
1999
7,501
3,294
2000
8,763
3,202
2001
7,090
2,480
2002
7,745
2,012
2003
10,485
3,268
2004
14,761
4,525
2005
24,041
6,637
2006
29,365
7,517
2007
17,767
5,750
2008
8,601
2,745
2009
3,506
1,390
Culture and Food
Both cities have rich cultural and food scenes. Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, while Philadelphia is renowned for its Philly cheesesteaks. Both cities host numerous cultural and food festivals.
Sports Teams
Chicago houses iconic teams like the Bulls, Cubs, and Bears, while Philadelphia is home to the Eagles, Phillies, and 76ers. Both cities are passionate about their sports teams, leading to a lively sports culture.
Chicago, IL
Philadelphia, PA
Chicago, IL and 
Philadelphia, PA : 666.0 miles
