HEAD TO HEAD
Carbondale vs Chicago
Carbondale leads Chicago on 4 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Carbondale, IL
wins 4 of 5 factors
Chicago, IL
wins 1 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Carbondale | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 97 ◆ | 84 |
| Affordable to rent | 98 ◆ | 49 |
| Climate comfort | 68 ◆ | 47 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 50 ◆ | 38 |
| Big-city amenities | 22 | 100 ◆ |
By the numbers
| Figure | Carbondale | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $154K | $354K |
| Typical rent | $896/mo | $2,266/mo |
| Average temperature | 13.8°C | 9.8°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4.25 kWh/m²/day | 3.84 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #321 | #3 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.