Austin, TX vs North Chicago, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Austin
68.3
#1322 nationally
North Chicago
79.5
#119 nationally
Austin leads in median household income ($91,461 vs $52,011). North Chicago leads in average commute (16.9 min vs 26.8 min). North Chicago leads in cost of living index (95 vs 129).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Austin, TX | North Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.3 (#1322) | 79.5 (#119) |
| Population | 967,862 | 30,416 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $504,148 | $226,134 |
| Median Household Income | $91,461 | $52,011 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 16.9 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 36 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 4.9 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 129 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.3 | D+20.8 |
D+
68.3 Score
Austin, TX
Live music capital meets tech innovation
Median Home
$504,148
Population
967,862
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Southwest
View Austin, TX →
C+
79.5 Score
North Chicago, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$226,134
Population
30,416
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
36
Midwest
View North Chicago, IL →
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