A little perspective, around here.
Single adults vs. couples: income in Chicago.
For ages 25–34 in the Chicago metro, median annual income is $57,308 for single adults and $118,159 for couples combined.
One adult's income compared with a couple's combined income. About the comparison
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Where the household gap is widest.
In Chicago, the largest dollar gap between single-adult and couple median annual income occurs at ages 45–54: $55,224 versus $146,917. The gap is $91,693. Household composition differs, so this does not measure the financial effect of getting married or adding a second earner.
Two different household pictures.
| Age band | Single adults | Couples, combined |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | $31,259 | $78,147 |
| 25–34 | $57,308 | $118,159 |
| 35–44 | $54,807 | $145,875 |
| 45–54 | $55,224 | $146,917 |
| 55–64 | $47,930 | $128,162 |
| 65–74 | $38,657 | $100,862 |
| 75+ | $33,343 | $83,357 |
Combined income can support more than one person. Couples may have one or two earners, so this difference does not measure the benefit of a second salary or the cost of raising a family.
How do other metros compare?
| Metro | Single adults | Couples |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $57,308 | $118,159 |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul | $57,308 | $126,078 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | $55,224 | $115,658 |
Shown with the two other supported metros whose single-adult medians at ages 25–34 are closest in dollars. These comparisons do not adjust for local living costs.
Other questions worth asking.
All metro comparisons and national age benchmarks →
- Average net worth at 25: national context
- Average net worth at 30: national context
- Average net worth at 35: national context
- Average net worth at 40: national context
- Median income at 30: national context
- What income is top 10% or top 1% in Chicago?
- Chicago vs. Atlanta
- Seattle vs. Chicago
- Chicago vs. Minneapolis–St. Paul
Explore another metro.
- Chicago income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Minneapolis–St. Paul income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Columbus income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Dallas–Fort Worth income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Atlanta income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Seattle income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- San Francisco income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- New York income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Boston income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Austin income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples
- Denver income percentiles · By age · Single adults vs. couples