Seattle, WA vs Chicago, IL: where should you move?
Seattle: No income tax + full amenity stack; price and gray are the toll. Chicago: World city at half the coastal price; taxes and winter.
Dimension
Seattle
Chicago
Median home price
$745K
$360K
Effective property tax
0.87%
2.08%
Tax friendliness
9/10
5/10
Winter mildness
5/10
3/10
Summer comfort
9/10
8/10
Walkability
6/10
7/10
Outdoor access
10/10
5/10
Culture & food
8/10
10/10
Healthcare
10/10
10/10
Airport connectivity
9/10
10/10
Schools
8/10
6/10
Safety
6/10
4/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
4/10
7/10
Growth trajectory
7/10
3/10
Pick Seattle if your priorities lean: Effective property tax, Tax friendliness, Winter mildness, Summer comfort. Pick Chicago if they lean: Median home price, Walkability, Culture & food, Airport connectivity. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.