New York, NY vs Chicago, IL: where should you move?
New York: The full maximum; taxes and space are the trade. Chicago: World city at half the coastal price; taxes and winter.
Dimension
New York
Chicago
Median home price
$735K
$360K
Effective property tax
1.46%
2.08%
Tax friendliness
3/10
5/10
Winter mildness
5/10
3/10
Summer comfort
7/10
8/10
Walkability
7/10
7/10
Outdoor access
5/10
5/10
Culture & food
10/10
10/10
Healthcare
10/10
10/10
Airport connectivity
9/10
10/10
Schools
7/10
6/10
Safety
6/10
4/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
10/10
7/10
Growth trajectory
3/10
3/10
Pick New York if your priorities lean: Effective property tax, Winter mildness, Schools, Safety. Pick Chicago if they lean: Median home price, Tax friendliness, Summer comfort, Airport connectivity. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.