This post was republished to Choco's Mountain at 3:33:58 PM 3/6/2011

Chicago vs. Denver

Here is data from http://www.bestplaces.net/city/ that compares Chicago to Denver, alongside the whole United States as a means for general comparison. After each main category, I will explain which city has the advantage.

PEOPLE Chicago Denver United States

Population 2,826,430 597,065 306,877,652

Pop. Density 12,444 3,894 87

Pop. Change -2.40% 7.58% 9.00%

Median Age 34.7 36.8 36.8

Households 1,037,069 250,586 115,306,103

Household Size 2.67 2.33 2.59

Male Population 49.00% 50.68% 49.34%

Female Population 51.00% 49.32% 50.66%

Married Population 43.50% 46.28% 57.41%

Single Population 56.50% 53.72% 42.59%

ESTIMATED TOTAL POPULATION BY AGE

Age 0 to 4 7.50% 6.61% 6.86%

Age 5 to 9 6.95% 6.49% 6.56%

Age 10 to 14 6.83% 6.36% 6.66%

Age 15 to 17 4.00% 3.39% 4.24%

Age 18 to 20 4.31% 3.51% 4.33%

Age 21 to 24 5.48% 4.47% 5.44%

Age 25 to 34 15.77% 16.49% 13.41%

Age 35 to 44 15.64% 16.42% 13.89%

Age 45 to 49 7.01% 7.38% 7.38%

Age 50 to 54 6.25% 6.68% 7.02%

Age 55 to 59 5.34% 6.01% 6.24%

Age 60 to 64 4.33% 4.80% 5.05%

Age 65 to 74 5.69% 5.66% 6.73%

Age 75 to 84 3.40% 3.79% 4.30%

Age 85 and over 1.51% 1.93% 1.87%

RACE

White 41.14% 64.62% 72.49%

Black 35.15% 9.39% 12.46%

Asian 4.88% 3.40% 4.57%

American Indian 0.41% 1.31% 0.93%

Other 18.41% 21.27% 9.55%

Hispanic 29.34% 34.68% 15.49%

Non-Hispanic 70.66% 65.32% 84.51%

FAMILY

Married, w/children 16.71% 15.21% 24.26%

Married, no children 18.32% 19.58% 28.19%

Single, w/children 11.80% 8.50% 9.01%

Single, no children 53.17% 56.72% 38.55%

Divorced 8.77% 12.69% 9.64%

Separated 8.00% 7.71% 5.29%

Widowed 6.89% 5.95% 6.40%

Now Married 35.50% 38.57% 52.11%

Never Married 40.84% 35.08% 26.55%

The only factors that really matter in this section is under race. Edge goes to Denver with a white population of 64.62% vs. Chicago’s 41.4%; Denver’s black population is 9.39% vs. Chicago’s 35.15%.

COSTLIV Chicago Denver United States

Overall 111 103 100

Grocery 99 105 100

Health 108 104 100

Housing 120 111 100

Utilities 115 100 100

Transportation 117 88 100

Miscellaneous 101 98 100

Again, edge goes to Denver. Though groceries in Chicago are cheaper, every other cost is cheaper in Denver, causing an overall cost of living in Denver of 103 vs. Chicago’s 111. Housing is perhaps the most important section of this since we will be buying in the next year or so.

ECONOMY Chicago Denver United States

Unemployment Rate 11.60% 7.40% 10.20%

Recent Job Growth -4.37% -4.90% -4.06%

Future Job Growth 19.66% 22.80% 21.68%

Sales Taxes 9.00% 7.72% 6.80%

Income Taxes 3.00% 4.63% 6.25%

Income per Cap. $23,853 $27,686 $26,372

Household Income $45,844 $46,704 $51,660

ESTIMATED HOUSEHOLDS BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Income Less Than 15K 17.44% 13.71% 12.48%

Income between 15K and 25K 10.76% 10.85% 10.46%

Income between 25K and 35K 10.67% 12.31% 10.68%

Income between 35K and 50K 15.26% 16.79% 15.26%

Income between 50K and 75K 18.11% 18.80% 19.62%

Income between 75K and 100K 10.61% 10.71% 12.20%

Income between 100K and 150K 10.30% 10.25% 11.83%

Income between 150K and 250K 4.57% 4.37% 5.23%

Income between 250K and 500K 1.51% 1.48% 1.54%

Income greater than 500K 0.77% 0.75% 0.70%

POPULATION BY OCCUPATION

Management, Business, and Financial Operations 13.48% 14.92% 13.70%

Professional and Related Occupations 20.30% 22.43% 20.28%

Service 16.41% 15.66% 14.73%

Sales and Office 26.95% 26.21% 26.66%

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0.09% 0.17% 0.74%

Construction, Extraction, and Maintenance 6.57% 9.92% 9.51%

Production, Transportation, and Material Moving 16.21% 10.69% 14.39%

These sections are heavily in favor of Denver. Unemployment is higher in Chicago while future job growth is lower than Denver. Sales taxes and income taxes are higher in Chicago, but household income and income per capita is lower than in Denver. Furthermore, 14.92% of the population is employed in management, business and financial operations in Denver in comparison to 13.48% in Chicago and 13.70% being the national average. This might show that there are more positions in my field (Finance). It surprises me that taxes are higher in Chicago while income is still lower, and that gives a major advantage to Denver, especially knowing how important this category is to achieving financial stability.

HOUSING Chicago Denver United States

Median Home Age 57 45 33

Median Home Cost $220,470 $204,040 $183,450

Home Appreciation -11.35% -2.06% -5.21%

Homes Owned 38.42% 48.12% 60.14%

Housing Vacant 12.24% 7.61% 10.50%

Homes Rented 49.34% 44.27% 29.36%

Property Tax Rate $16.10 $5.71 $11.20

OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS BY VALUE

Less Than $20,000 0.30% 0.27% 2.71%

$20,000 to $39,999 0.48% 0.28% 3.86%

$40,000 to $59,999 0.82% 0.53% 5.09%

$60,000 to $79,999 1.41% 1.43% 6.10%

$80,000 to $99,999 2.65% 3.00% 7.33%

$100,000 to $149,999 15.02% 18.20% 18.53%

$150,000 to $199,999 16.40% 23.52% 14.38%

$200,000 to $299,999 29.46% 28.91% 17.52%

$300,000 to $399,999 14.56% 11.96% 9.26%

$400,000 to $499,999 7.21% 4.77% 5.11%

$500,000 to $749,999 6.90% 4.57% 5.76%

$1,000,000 or more 2.33% 0.94% 2.07%

HOUSING UNITS BY YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT

1999 to October 2005 8.18% 13.19% 15.21%

1995 to 1998 1.74% 2.95% 6.33%

1990 to 1994 1.66% 1.82% 6.29%

1980 to 1989 3.86% 8.13% 14.11%

1970 to 1979 7.95% 14.43% 16.14%

1960 to 1969 12.79% 12.88% 12.04%

1950 to 1959 15.64% 16.29% 10.80%

1940 to 1949 13.07% 8.65% 6.21%

1939 or Earlier 35.10% 21.67% 12.87%

Denver also has the advantage for housing. The median home age for Denver homes is 45 while Chicago’s is 57. The median home cost in Denver is $204,040; in Chicago, that price is $220, 470. Home appreciation is -2.06% in Denver and is -11.35% in Chicago, meaning depreciation is lower in Denver. Denver’s property tax rate is $5.71 compared to $16.10. Lower property taxes, newer homes and lower home costs can be found in Denver.

HEALTH Chicago Denver United States

Air Quality (100=best) 6.8 45 82.8

Water Quality (100=best) 31 87 55

Superfund Sites (100=best) 10 11 71

Physicians per Cap. 255 468 221

Most likely because Denver is smaller, pollution is lower in Denver.

CRIME Chicago Denver United States

Violent Crime 9 6 4

Property Crime 6 5 4

Crime is also lower in Denver.

CLIMATE Chicago Denver United States

Rainfall (in.) 35.9 12.6 36.5

Snowfall (in.) 27.5 53.8 25

Precipitation Days 124 78 100

Sunny Days 189 245 205

Avg. July High 83 86 86.5

Avg. Jan. Low 18.4 21.6 20.5

Comfort Index (higher=better) 47 57 44

UV Index 3.6 4.8 4.3

Elevation ft. 591 5,228 1,060

Denver gets significantly more snowfall compared to Chicago. The average July high is slightly higher in Denver while the average January low is also slightly higher. The comfort index is also higher. The climate seems very similar; the biggest difference is the higher snowfall totals in Denver. This section may actually go to Chicago.

EDUCATE Chicago Denver United States

School Expend. $4,528 $4,375 $5,678

Pupil/Teacher Ratio 20.2 18.8 14.9

Students per Librarian 1090 551 803

Students per Counselor 0 713 513

2 yr College Grad. 4.63% 5.06% 6.39%

4 yr College Grad. 15.93% 21.42% 15.74%

Graduate Degrees 10.35% 12.24% 8.87%

High School Grads. 71.96% 78.11% 80.61%

School expenditures are higher in Chicago, but the pupil/teacher ratio is lower in Denver. The statistics also indicate Denver is more highly educated.

TRANSPORT Chicago Denver United States

Commute Time 37.5 26.7 27.8

COMMUTE MODE

Auto (alone) 50.20% 67.81% 76.33%

Carpool 14.52% 13.73% 12.15%

Mass Transit 26.10% 8.21% 4.44%

Work at Home 2.40% 3.71% 3.33%

COMMUTE TIME TO WORK

Commute Less Than 15 min. 13.54% 24.45% 28.88%

Commute 15 to 29 min. 28.21% 41.55% 36.09%

Commute 30 to 44 min. 27.92% 22.29% 19.38%

Commute 45 to 59 min. 14.53% 6.13% 7.59%

Commute greater than 60 min. 15.81% 5.58% 8.06%

Commute time is much less in Denver, 26.7 minutes compared to 37.5 in Chicago, most likely because of Chicago’s larger size, and thus added congestion.

RELIGION Chicago Denver United States

Percent Religious 56.06% 55.35% 48.34%

Catholic 39.34% 16.69% 21.76%

Protestant 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

LDS 0.18% 0.96% 1.66%

Baptist 1.84% 6.49% 8.38%

Episcipalian 0.27% 0.00% 0.53%

Pentacostal 0.46% 0.94% 1.78%

Lutheran 1.97% 7.64% 2.49%

Methodist 0.60% 6.87% 2.98%

Presbyterian 0.56% 3.33% 1.07%

Other Christian 4.95% 12.42% 5.20%

Jewish 3.72% 0.00% 1.81%

Eastern 0.04% 0.01% 0.05%

Islam 2.12% 0.00% 0.64%

This section doesn’t really affect the decision.

VOTING Chicago Denver United States

Democrat 76.210% 75.450% 52.870%

Republican 22.820% 23.040% 45.620%

Independent Other 0.969% 1.504% 1.510%

Independent Liberal 0.000% 0.000% 0.000%

Independent Conservative 0.000% 0.000% 0.000%

This one doesn’t matter much either, but the stats are similar; most of the populations would be Democratic since it is a city, and urban areas are more likely to vote Democratic.

All in all, all sections went in favor of Denver, except for climate; even then, the comfort index in Denver was higher.