RealTalkAJ

I’ll be discussing why I think people don’t know Chicago is America’s 3rd largest city.

It’s a shame when we’re discussing such a beautiful city.

There’s food they’re known for, music, broadway, comedy, etc.

Off the bat it feels like more of an issue of popularity, but I’m sure there’s more to it.

We’re gonna break this down even further though, so here we go.

Why don’t people know Chicago is America’s 3rd largest city?

Many people overlook Chicago’s size because attention often shifts toward money-driven hotspots. Cities like New York and Los Angeles dominate conversations around high living costs, luxury lifestyles, and entertainment careers. Cultural leaders in music, film, and media usually highlight those coasts, which overshadows Chicago’s significance. As a result, despite being America’s third-largest city, it doesn’t get the same recognition, proving that perception often follows influence and hype rather than population facts.

‘Show me where the money is’

When it comes to measuring a city’s size or dominance by money, Chicago earns a unique spot on the list.

While it doesn’t carry the same cost-of-living burden as California or New York—the two most expensive states in the country on average—it still commands national attention through its financial influence.

Chicago is home to major banking headquarters, global trade centers, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, making it a hub where massive amounts of money move daily.

What makes this ranking interesting is how “the largest” is often defined.

For some, it’s about population or land size. For others, it’s about where the most activity happens.

By that measure, Chicago is undeniably one of the “biggest.”

It might not match Manhattan’s astronomical rents or San Francisco’s inflated housing costs, but Chicago balances a more manageable cost of living with high levels of business, culture, and tourism.

In this way, Chicago proves that being “the largest” isn’t always about being the most expensive.

It thrives as a central meeting point—geographically and economically—where industries, travelers, and investments converge.

That scenario, grouped with its role as a financial powerhouse, gives Chicago a claim to being just as significant as cities in states like California and New York, but in a way that’s distinctly its own.