City Comparison | Chicago Vs. New York City

How does Chicago stack up against New York City? This article will help you decide for yourself.

Chicago and New York City are two of America’s most iconic and influential cities, each offering its own unique blend of the elements that define what being a great city means.

There is no question that both Chicago and New York are culturally dominant across many fields worldwide, including architecture, music, and cuisine. But how do these often compared powerhouses stack up against each other?

In this article, we’ll compare the two cities across several categories to help you decide for yourself by highlighting what makes each one unique.

NYC vs Chicago Infographic

Demographics

Chicago

Chicago is an extremely diverse city, and has a rich mix of cultures from around the world living across the city.

Median Age

35.7 years

Racial Makeup

32% White

29.6% Hispanic

28% Black

7.03% Asian

2.73% Multiracial

<1% Other

<1% American Indian and Pacific Islander

New York City

New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with over 200 languages spoken, and millions of people representing dozens of ethnicities calling the city home.

Median Age

38 years

Racial Makeup

31.3% White

28.4% Hispanic/Latino

20.8% Black

14.5% Asian

3.42% Multiracial

1.27% Other

<1% American Indian and Pacific Islander

An image of Washington Square Park in New York City — *Image via Voyajer Media*

Education

Chicago

The Chicago Public School System is one of the largest in the country, with more than 320,000 students across 634 schools.

The Chicago area is also home to several prestigious universities and research institutions, including University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Depaul University.

New York City

The New York City School District is by far the largest in the United States, with 1,852 schools and 983,174 students.

New York City is also home to several top colleges and universities, including Columbia University, NYU, and Barnard College.

Cost of Living

Chicago

When compared to other large US Cities, Chicago has managed to keep itself relatively affordable.

However, issues such as high taxes, a lack of high density residential construction, and overall increases in the cost of living have led to the city becoming increasingly less affordable over time.

Median Household Income – $75,134

Average Home Cost – $309,000

Average Rent (1 bedroom) – $1,953

New York City

New York City has been one of the most expensive cities in the world for many years, and is a poster child for the high cost of living in the United States.

The lack of affordability in New York has pushed out many of its long-time residents in exchange for more affluent people, which has had many negative effects on the city’s historically ethnic communities.

Median Household Income – $79,713

Average Home Cost – $732,100

Average Rent (1 bedroom) – $3,991

Transportation

Chicago

Chicago’s public transportation system, the CTA, includes:

The ‘L’ Train

First Operation – 1892

Number of Lines – 8

Network Length – 102.8 miles of track

Annual Ridership – 127,463,000

Buses

Number of Routes – 140

Annual Ridership – 181,733,000

Biking

Bike Lane Network Length – 478 Miles

Bike Share System – Divvy

New York City

New York City’s public transportation system, the MTA, includes:

The New York City Subway

First Operation – 1904

Number of Lines – 36

Network Length – 248 miles of track

Annual Ridership – 2 billion

Buses

Number of Routes – 238

Annual Ridership – 340,766,000

Biking

Bike Lane Network Length – 1,550 Miles

Bike Share System – Citi Bike

Popular Neighborhoods

Chicago

Chicago is often called a city of neighborhoods, and for good reason. The city is composed of more than 200 official neighborhoods that are grouped together in 77 community areas.

History and the influence of the city’s diverse cultures give each of Chicago’s neighborhoods a distinct identity, making them feel more like individual towns rather than monotonous parts of the same city.

Some of Chicago’s most well known neighborhoods include:

New York City

There are more than 300 neighborhoods and 59 community districts divided across New York City’s five boroughs, and each of them reflect the history and growth of the city.

Many of New York City’s neighborhoods have been the setting of historic events, and have produced or influenced iconic figures from many fields.

A few of New York’s most popular neighborhoods are:

Greenwich Village

Williamsburg

Harlem

Crown Heights

Astoria

Chinatown

Chelsea

Lower East Side