Hattiesburg vs Chicago

Category / Metric	Hattiesburg	Chicago
Financial Overview
Median Income	$44,140	$74,474
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	4.2%
Housing Market
Median Home Price	$153,600	$365,000
Price per SqFt	$null	$261
Monthly Rent (1BR)	$906	$1,507
Housing Cost Index	100.0	110.7
Cost of Living
Groceries Index	94.9	103.3
Gas Price (Gallon)	$3.40	$3.40
Safety & Lifestyle
Violent Crime (per 100k)	291.2	819.0
Bachelor's Degree+	35%	45.7%
Air Quality (AQI)	34	38

Chicago vs. Hattiesburg: The Ultimate Head-to-Head Showdown

Choosing between Chicago and Hattiesburg isn't just picking a city—it's choosing a lifestyle. On one side, you have the Windy City: a global powerhouse of culture, cuisine, and career opportunities. On the other, Hattiesburg, the "Hub City" of Mississippi: a charming, affordable Southern gem with a pace of life that makes you exhale.

This isn't a fair fight in terms of scale, but it's a crucial battle for your priorities. Let's break it down, category by category, so you can decide where your next chapter makes sense.

The Vibe Check: Midwest Metropolis vs. Southern Charm

Chicago is a 24/7 energy drink. It’s the city of deep-dish pizza, world-class museums, and a skyline that literally pierces the clouds. The culture is a mosaic of neighborhoods, each with its own identity—from the trendy lofts of Wicker Park to the historic brownstones of Lincoln Park. It’s for the ambitious, the culture-hungry, and those who thrive on the buzz of a big city. You trade personal space and quiet for endless entertainment and professional networking.

Hattiesburg is a glass of sweet tea on a porch swing. It’s a college town (home to the University of Southern Mississippi) with a tight-knit, friendly community. Life revolves around football Saturdays, local festivals, and knowing your barista by name. The pace is slow, the people are warm, and the stress level is a fraction of a major metro. It’s for those who value community, affordability, and a slower pace, where a weekend might mean a day trip to the Gulf Coast or a hike in the nearby pine forests.

Who is each city for?

• Chicago: The career-driven professional, the foodie, the arts lover, the sports fanatic, and anyone who needs a global city's energy to feel alive.
• Hattiesburg: The budget-conscious family, the remote worker seeking a lower cost of living, the retiree wanting Southern hospitality, and the student.

The Dollar Power: Where Does Your Paycheck Stretch Further?

This is where the gap becomes a canyon. The baseline cost of living in the Midwest is a world away from the Deep South.

Let's look at the raw numbers. We'll assume a baseline of $100,000 in annual income for comparison.

Expense Category	Chicago, IL	Hattiesburg, MS	The Difference
Median 1-BR Rent	$1,507	$906	$601 less (40% cheaper)
Utilities (Monthly Avg)	$200	$150	$50 less (25% cheaper)
Groceries	10-15% above nat'l avg	5% below nat'l avg	Significant savings
Median Home Price	$365,000	$153,600	$211,400 less (58% cheaper)
Median Income	$74,474	$44,140	$30,334 more in Chicago

The Purchasing Power Paradox:
You earn more in Chicago ($74,474 vs. $44,140), but your money vanishes faster. Let's do the math on that $100,000 salary.

• In Chicago: Your effective tax rate (including federal, state, and local) will be roughly 28-30%. After taxes, you're left with about $70,000. A one-bedroom apartment alone ($1,507/mo or $18,084/yr) eats up 26% of your take-home pay. That's before groceries, utilities, or that deep-dish pizza. Your remaining $51,916 has to cover everything else in an expensive city.
• In Hattiesburg: Your effective tax rate (MS has a low income tax) is closer to 24-26%. After taxes, you're left with about $74,000. A one-bedroom apartment ($906/mo or $10,872/yr) consumes only 15% of your take-home pay. You have $63,128 left over. In a city where groceries and utilities are cheaper, that money goes much, much further.

Taxes: Illinois has a flat state income tax of 4.95%, and Chicago adds its own city taxes. Mississippi has a progressive income tax that tops out at 5%, but for median incomes, it's often lower. The property tax burden in Illinois is famously high, which significantly impacts homeowners.

Verdict: While Chicago salaries are higher, Hattiesburg offers staggering purchasing power. Your $100k in Hattiesburg feels like $140k+ in Chicago. If you're working remotely and earning a coastal salary, Hattiesburg is a financial superpower.

The Housing Market: Renting vs. Buying

Chicago: The market is a tale of two cities. Downtown and popular North Side neighborhoods are seller's markets with intense competition and high prices. You'll face bidding wars. However, the South and West Sides offer more affordable options, though they come with different considerations about safety and amenities. The Housing Index of 110.7 means it's 10.7% more expensive than the national average. Renting is the norm for many, especially young professionals.

Hattiesburg: This is a classic buyer's market. With a median home price of $153,600 and a Housing Index of 100.0 (exactly at the national average), homeownership is within reach for a median-income household. You can get a spacious family home for the price of a Chicago studio apartment. Renting is affordable and plentiful, driven by the university population.

The Bottom Line: In Chicago, you likely rent for a long time unless you have significant capital. In Hattiesburg, you can start building equity immediately.

The Dealbreakers: Quality of Life

Traffic & Commute

• Chicago: Infamous. The "L" train is a lifeline, but driving is a nightmare. The average commute is 35 minutes, and rush hour traffic can be brutal. Car ownership is expensive (insurance, parking, gas).
• Hattiesburg: A breeze. The city is built for cars. The average commute is under 20 minutes. Traffic jams are rare. You'll spend less time in your car and more time living.

Weather

• Chicago: The four seasons are real, and winter is brutal. Prepare for months of sub-freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and the infamous wind chill. Summers are gorgeous but can be humid. The 21.0°F average January low is a stark reality.
• Hattiesburg: Welcome to the Deep South. Summers are long, hot, and oppressively humid (think 90°F+ with high humidity for months). Winters are mild (rarely dipping below freezing), but you trade snow for the risk of hurricanes and severe thunderstorms. If you hate the cold, Hattiesburg wins. If you hate the heat and humidity, Chicago's brutal winter might be worth the trade-off.

Crime & Safety

• Chicago: The data is sobering. With a violent crime rate of 819.0 per 100,000, it's significantly higher than the national average. However, crime is hyper-local. Neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lake View, and the Gold Coast are very safe, while others struggle. You must research specific areas.
• Hattiesburg: The violent crime rate is 291.2 per 100,000—still above the national average but 64% lower than Chicago. It's a small town, and while crime exists, the scale and randomness of big-city crime are less prevalent. It feels safer to most residents, especially in well-established neighborhoods.

Safety Verdict: Hattiesburg is objectively safer based on the data. Chicago requires more vigilance and neighborhood-specific research.

The Final Verdict: Who Wins Your Heart?

This isn't about which city is "better," but which city is better for you.

Winner Category	The Winner	The Reason
Career Growth & Opportunity	Chicago	The economic engine of the Midwest. Unmatched in corporate HQs, startups, and industry diversity.
Affordability & Purchasing Power	Hattiesburg	A $100k salary here provides a lifestyle that would require $150k+ in Chicago.
Culture & Entertainment	Chicago	World-class theater, museums, dining, and music. Hattiesburg has local charm, but Chicago has global offerings.
Safety	Hattiesburg	Lower crime rates across the board. A peace of mind that's hard to quantify.
Ease of Living	Hattiesburg	Short commutes, easy parking, and a relaxed pace. Chicago is exhilarating but exhausting.

Winner for Families: Hattiesburg

For the median-income family, Hattiesburg is the clear choice. You can afford a $153,600 home, a safe neighborhood, and a community-focused lifestyle. The quality of public schools can vary, but the lower cost of living gives you more resources for private options or extracurriculars. The slower pace is often better for raising kids.

Winner for Singles/Young Professionals: Chicago

If you're under 35, ambitious, and crave a dynamic social and professional scene, Chicago is the place. The dating pool, networking events, and sheer variety of experiences are unparalleled. You'll pay for it, but the energy and opportunity are worth the trade-off in your 20s and early 30s.

Winner for Retirees: Hattiesburg

This is a no-brainer. Lower cost of living, milder winters (no shoveling snow!), a slower pace, and a friendly, community-oriented atmosphere. Your retirement savings will go infinitely further, and the stress level drops dramatically.

At a Glance: Pros & Cons

Chicago (The Windy City)

• PROS: World-class jobs & career growth; endless culture & dining; vibrant nightlife; excellent public transit (in parts); four distinct seasons; major sports teams.
• CONS: Extremely high cost of living; brutal winters; high crime (neighborhood-dependent); stressful, fast-paced lifestyle; traffic congestion; high taxes.

Hattiesburg (The Hub City)

• PROS: Extremely affordable cost of living; low crime for its size; friendly, tight-knit community; easy commutes & parking; proximity to Gulf Coast beaches; mild winters.
• CONS: Limited high-paying job market; fewer entertainment/cultural options; intense summer heat & humidity; more isolated from major metros; smaller dating/social pool.

Final Advice: If your career, budget, and lifestyle demand the energy and opportunity of a global powerhouse, Chicago is calling. If you value financial freedom, safety, and a slower, more community-focused life, Hattiesburg offers a compelling, affordable alternative. Choose wisely.