City: Chicago
State: Illinois
Best Cities Overall Rank: 90
About Chicago:
The first Ferris Wheel appeared in Chicago in 1893. The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of three major free zoos in the country.
The city has more than 200 theaters and nearly 200 art galleries. Also, 15 miles of bathing beaches.
County: Cook
Population: 2853114
Official website for city visitors' bureau/city: Explore Chicago
Newspaper with the largest circulation: Chicago Tribune
Chicago blogs:
Mommy Instincts
Chicago Moms' Blog
The Cosmo Mom
Chicago's Facebook page: Follow Chicago on Facebook
Chicago's Twitter page: Follow Chicago on Twitter
Education rank:73
High School graduation rate 2008: 54.3%
Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-2009: 8
Blue Ribbon Schools per 100,000 people: 0.28
NEAYC-accredited preschools: 148
NAEYC schools per 100,000 people: 5.18
NAEP State proficiency reading, grade 8: 265
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 19.5
Total Expenditures Per Student: $11,051
Health rank: 87
Quality children's hospitals: 3
Hospitals per 100,000 people: 0.10
Quality Pediatricians: 23
Quality Pediatricians per 100,000: 0.80
Average number of Unhealthy Air Quality days between 2006-2008, by county: 0.66
Safety rank: 60
Violent Crimes, 2008: 35,764
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000: 1,253.50
Sex Offenders: 2,802
Sex Offenders per 100,000: 98.208
Economy rank: 89
Travel time to work, 2006-2008, in minutes: 34.10
Percent of labor force unemployed, January 2010: 11.7
Best Performing Cities Job Index: 1,195.34
Median Home Sale Price: $221,500
5-Year Home Value Index: -3.54%
Percent of homes sold for a loss: 33.07%
Recreation Rank: 96
Parkland acreage, 2008 (includes pools and playgrounds): 7,557
Parkland per 100,000: 264.87
Photo courtesy of mindfriezemindfrieze
