Chicago vs Washington

Washington leads Chicago by 2 points on the CIRA Index, 71 to 69. Chicago grades better on 4 measures, Washington on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Chicago 69, Washington 71
• OECD: Chicago 67, Washington 72
• UN Tourism: Chicago 64, Washington 70
• UNDRR: Chicago 66, Washington 69

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chicago 70, Washington 90
• Economy and jobs: Chicago 92, Washington 92
• Climate and hazards: Chicago 65, Washington 60
• Water and environment: Chicago 50, Washington 56
• Community and housing: Chicago 75, Washington 75
• Access and continuity: Chicago 71, Washington 71

Where Chicago is stronger

• Extreme heat days: 2.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 98.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Statistics Division / WHO / UN-Habitat, SDG Global Database (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 544.7 kg per resident per year (City of Chicago & Delta Institute, 2021 City of Chicago Waste Strategy, 2020). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Short-let density: 0.7 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Inside Airbnb & U.S. Census Bureau ACS Profile, 2024). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.

Where Washington is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 28.4 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 11.7 % of international arrivals or nights (Destination DC, 2024 Annual Visitor Statistics (citing Tourism Economics), 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 108.4 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Destination DC, 2024). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Green space: 37 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Urban Forestry Division / DOEE, Washington DC's Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, 2020). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
• Rent growth: -0.9 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, Washington, DC Rent Report, October 2025–October 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chicago in full · Washington in full

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