Why Chicago
SECOND TO NONE.
WELCOME TO ALL.
For 13 consecutive years, Site Selection Magazine has chosen Chicago as the nation's top metro for corporate relocation and expansion. For nine years in a row, we’re also Condé Nast Traveler's #1 Best Big City in the U.S.
Why? Because Chicago doesn't ask you to choose between ambition and quality of life.
Chicago offers scale that creates opportunity, a civic community to open doors, affordability that expands possibility, and a vibrant cultural scene where all can belong.
Top Reasons Businesses Grow In Chicago
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Voted “Best Big City in the U.S.” by Condé Nast Traveler readers, 9 years running.
Chicago regularly tops the charts in rankings of cities’ quality of life, sense of belonging, food, and more — a testament to its unique mix of affordability and cultural vibrancy.
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Despite making up only 3% of the city’s landmass, Chicago’s central business area accounts for 8% of its population, 45% of its tax base, and more than half of its jobs.
In the past 22 years, downtown Chicago has seen a 44% population growth increase, and a 77% job growth increase.
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Of approximately 250,000 businesses in Chicagoland, no single sector accounts for more than 13% of the region’s GDP.
We love to talk about our diverse industry base because it’s proof of the resilience across market cycles and access to a broad base of customers that makes Chicago second to none for doing business.
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Chicago is the only city in the U.S. who’s public transit train has access to two international airports. One of them happens to be the busiest, most well-connected in the nation.
Beside consistently ranking as the nation’s #1 port by trade value, O'Hare International Airport is a direct link between Chicago and nearly every major global business hub, making the city an easy, central choice for both corporate travel and everyday trips alike.
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The Chicagoland metro area ranks #2 in the U.S. for the number of Fortune 500 headquarters – 30 F500 companies call the region home.
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With approximately 5 million workers and 151,473 post-secondary graduates annually, Chicago ranks as the 3rd largest talent producer in the U.S. with a workforce larger than 41 states.
Over 3.2 million Chicago-area residents hold an associate’s degree or higher, and 35% of Chicago-area residents hold a college degree, outpacing the national average of 31%.
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Chicago is by far the most affordable major city in the U.S., offering unmatched value for a world class food and entertainment scene, job market, and general quality of life.
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The Chicagoland region is the most viable region in the country for long-term stability and resilience from adverse weather and climate change.
Chicago is relatively insulated from tornados, and we don’t have floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes.
Our city’s massive snow fighting resources trivialize the after-effects of harsh winter events, while our spot by the Great Lakes gives us access to the largest freshwater system in the world, ideal for industrial use and quality of life.
The Chicago Region
The City of Chicago anchors the Chicago Metropolitan Area, also known as the Chicago Region, or commonly just Chicagoland – a collaborative economic ecosystem shared between the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.
With a population of nearly 10 million and a gross regional product exceeding $830 billion, the Chicago Metropolitan Area is home to one of the world's largest economies, and the most welcoming big city in the world.
To learn more about how we partner with the Chicagoland region, see below.
An Economy Built To Last
At the core of Chicago’s resilience and grit is a diverse economy anchored by several major sectors, none of which contribute to more than 13% of its total GDP.
That breadth has historically insulated the city from the kind of economic shocks that hollow out more concentrated economies, and it gives businesses here access to a uniquely diverse base of partners, customers, and talent.
Strategic Location With Robust Infrastructure
Chicago sits at the center of the country, at the convergence of seven Class I railroads, two international airports, and the interstate highway system. More freight moves through Chicago than any other city in North America.
For companies that need to reach suppliers, customers, and markets across the continent, there is no more strategically located city than here.
Best-In-Class Talent Pipeline
When college graduates all around the Midwest look for jobs, they look in Chicago.
Our city’s longstanding status as a regional talent magnet is coupled with proximity to some of the nation’s leading educational institutions, making Chicago the perfect location for both talent attraction and generation.
Quality Of Life
Chicago is a vibrant city that offers a unique blend of food, arts, sports, and music culture you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Chicagoans prefer to make the most of their free time, whether that’s at the big game, our open lakefront, a great show, a renowned museum, or just in the neighborhood.
Testimonials
Chicago's case is best made by the people who've built here. Hear from business leaders across industries on why they chose Chicago, and why they've stayed.
A Unified Partner Ecosystem
Few cities have cultivated the density of civic and business relationships that Chicago has, and World Business Chicago is at the center. We invite you to leverage the decades of institution-building unique to the City that Works.
Want To Grow In Chicago?
Get in touch with our team of experts — we love to talk about why Chicago is second to none and welcome to all.
