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City

Chicago

#20 in Best Cities for Young Professionals in America
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • City in Illinois
  • 1,662 reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    C+
  2. Crime & Safety
    C-
  3. Housing
    C-
  4. Nightlife
    A+
  5. Good for Families
    B+
  6. Diversity
    A+
  7. Jobs
    C+
  8. Weather
    C+
  9. Cost of Living
    C+
  10. Health & Fitness
    A-
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    A-
View Full Report Card
Chicago is a city in Illinois with a population of 2,722,586. Chicago is in Cook County and is one of the best places to live in Illinois. Living in Chicago offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Chicago there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Chicago and residents tend to be liberal.
About Chicago...
Population
2,722,586

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$234,500
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$1,029
National
$949
Area Feel
Urban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    55%
  • Own
    45%
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Chicago Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Chicago Neighborhood Map

  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C-
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      570.4
      282.7
    • Murder
      24.1
      6.1
    • Rape
      65.1
      40.7
    • Robbery
      439.3
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      477.1
      500.1
    • Theft
      2,358.8
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      427.8
      284
    Home Security Options for Chicago
    Learn More
    • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
    • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      12%
    • 10-17 years
      9%
    • 18-24 years
      10%
    • 25-34 years
      20%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      12%
    • 55-64 years
      11%
    • 65+ years
      12%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      15%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      22%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      23%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      23%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      16%
      13%

    Working in Chicago

    Jobs
    C+
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $52,497
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Chicago
    Places like Chicago
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    Chicago Reviews

    1,662 reviews
    All Categories
    Overall Chicago is a beautiful city filled with landmarks, hospitals and phenomenal skyscrapers! The variety of things to do is endless. Chicago’s forecast usually consist of high winds and breezy summer nights.
    Thinking of raising your family in a big city what better place than Chicago!
    Several hospitals to choose from less than 10 miles apart! Medical facilities you wouldn’t believe and some of the best doctors in the world. Health care is always a priority and necessity in today’s society.
    Transportation for residents and visitors is always a plus, nobody ever wants to wait. Life is on demand now days!
    Within city limits there’s all kinds of alternate transportation being offered; I.e. bus service, train, and even share riding! You can’t beat it!
    The only thing I object to with the city of Chicago is the cost of living! At times housing and everyday living is way to expensive and unnecessary! Lately the city has been coming up with ridiculous tax hikes!
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    I love my neighborhood in Chicago! I live in LS right off the California blue line. We have access to so many bars, restaurants and performance venues. The main thing I would improve in my city is more transit options and better bike safety. I'm doing my part in reducing my carbon footprint by not owning a car. I wish that in part, trains could run more often and that more trains could be built to accommodate our cities growth. In addition, I wish that there were more bike lanes and that pedestrian safety was taken more seriously.
    I absolutely love living here! I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. The city is easy to maneuver, has incredibly comprehensive public transportation, and diverse neighborhoods for whatever kind of person you may be. For a major metropolitan area, rent is relatively low as well. Yes, the weather can get quite cold, but it's well worth it to be in a place where something is always happening!

    There is also a lot of opportunity for people looking for work, especially recent grads. A lot of start ups are here, which gives a lot of opportunity to find work in a large range of industries. There are a lot of places to look for work, whether you're looking for something full time or temporary.

    Summers in Chicago are also a blast! People are so excited for the nice weather that there are a ton of street festivals and outdoor events. The beaches are also quite nice and there are several, whether you're headed to the energetic Oak St. Beach or the more relaxed Montrose Beach.