Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
Opportunity
44 · Bottom 26%
vs40 · Bottom 20%
Growth
22 · Bottom 9%
vs27 · Bottom 16%
Climate
63 · Bottom 36%
vs61 · Bottom 28%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 26%
vs86 · Top 10%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 47%
vs95 · Top 37%
Access
93 · Top 30%
vs82 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
82 · Top 16%
vs62 · Top 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,371,595 | 4,376,828 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,887 | $76,664 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,513 | $43,384 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,354/sq mi | 1,124/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $323,000 | $249,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,430 | $1,207 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.5% | 71.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.6% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 34.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 13.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 14,539 | 8,283 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -20.5% | -5.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.4" | 29.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 36 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 28.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
67
Your Score
63
Area Score
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area · Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology