Houston, 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
North Chicago
79.5
#119 nationally
North Chicago leads in average commute (16.9 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 36). Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $52,011).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | North Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 79.5 (#119) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 30,416 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $226,134 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $52,011 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 16.9 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 36 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 4.9 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+20.8 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, 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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