Chicago, IL vs Boston, MA
Cost of living comparison · 2023 Census ACS data
Quick Summary
Boston is materially more expensive on housing — $710,000 for a typical home compared with $315,000 in Chicago, a gap of roughly 56%. State income-tax burden also tilts toward Chicago — a top rate of 5.0% versus 9.0% — which compounds at higher incomes.
Median Home Value
$315,200 ✓
$710,400
Zillow Home Value
$312,456
$768,701
Median Gross Rent
$1,380/mo ✓
$2,093/mo
Owner Occupied %
45.5%
35.4%
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0x
28.3x
Median Household Income
$75,134
$94,755 ✓
Per Capita Income
$48,148
$60,001
Unemployment Rate
7.9%
6.0% ✓
Poverty Rate
16.8%
16.9%
Avg Commute (min)
36.7 min
33.2 min
Drove Alone %
46.0%
34.1%
Public Transit %
19.3%
24.0%
Work From Home %
18.3%
18.8%
State Income Tax
5.0%
9.0%
Total Sales Tax
8.7%
6.3% ✓
Property Tax Rate
2.2%
1.2%
Bachelor's Degree %
24.9%
28.5%
Median Age
35.7
33.2
Avg High Temp
60.3°F
59.3°F
Annual Precipitation
34.4"
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
—
49.2"
Chicago, IL 2 wins
- ✓Median Home Value
- ✓Median Gross Rent
Boston, MA 3 wins
- ✓Total Sales Tax
- ✓Median Household Income
- ✓Unemployment Rate
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