Cicero IL vs Knoxville TN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Cicero, IL

Illinois · Population: 26,938

  • Median HH Income$57,479
  • Median Home Price$268,119
  • Unemployment12.7%
  • Bachelor's+20.2%

Knoxville, TN

Tennessee · Population: 193,721

  • Median HH Income$50,994
  • Median Home Price$371,202
  • Unemployment4.4%
  • Bachelor's+33.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cicero
26,938
Knoxville
193,721
Knoxville +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cicero
N/A
Knoxville
N/A
Median Age
Cicero
35.6
Knoxville
33.3
Knoxville +
Foreign Born
Cicero
15.7%
Cicero +
Knoxville
7.0%
White
Cicero
26.6%
Knoxville
72.2%
Knoxville +
Black
Cicero
40.3%
Cicero +
Knoxville
15.7%
Asian
Cicero
0.2%
Knoxville
1.6%
Knoxville +
Hispanic
Cicero
37.2%
Cicero +
Knoxville
7.5%
Spanish at Home
Cicero
N/A
Knoxville
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cicero
$57,479
Cicero +
Knoxville
$50,994
Per Capita Income
Cicero
$25,488
Knoxville
$33,171
Knoxville +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cicero
$68,110
Cicero +
Knoxville
$59,097
Unemployment Rate
Cicero
12.7%
Knoxville
4.4%
Knoxville +
Poverty Rate
Cicero
24.7%
Knoxville
20.5%
Knoxville +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cicero
20.2%
Knoxville
33.7%
Knoxville +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cicero
$268,119
Cicero +
Knoxville
$371,202
Homeownership Rate
Cicero
63.2%
Cicero +
Knoxville
46.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cicero
344
Cicero +
Knoxville
639
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cicero
1842
Cicero +
Knoxville
2350

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cicero
35.5%
Cicero +
Knoxville
36.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cicero
13.5%
Knoxville
12.6%
Knoxville +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cicero
16.5%
Cicero +
Knoxville
22.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cicero
29.7%
Knoxville
12.9%
Knoxville +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cicero
19.0%
Knoxville
15.8%
Knoxville +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cicero
12.8%
Cicero +
Knoxville
17.8%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cicero
N/A
Knoxville
57.8°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cicero
N/A
Knoxville
51.9 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cicero
9.4 µg/m³
Knoxville
8.9 µg/m³
Knoxville +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cicero
55.0%
Knoxville
75.0%
Knoxville +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cicero
33.7 min
Knoxville
22.0 min
Knoxville +

Which City is Right for You?

Cicero leads in median household income at $57,479, while cicero offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $268,119. On public safety, Cicero is safer with a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 residents, compared to 639 in Knoxville. Knoxville has a lower unemployment rate at 4.4%, and Knoxville has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cicero scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Cicero & Knoxville