Moving from New York City to Chicago
A climate comparison of two homes: New York to Illinois. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Freezing months go from 0 months to 3 months.
New York City, NY to Chicago, IL
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Months below freezing | 0 months | 3 months | 3 more |
| Frost-free season | 244 days | 201 days | 43 days shorter |
| Coldest month | 34F in January | 26F in January | 8F colder |
| Last spring frost | March 26 | April 11 | 16 days later |
| Warmest month | 79F in July | 76F in July | 3F cooler |
Moving from New York City to Chicago reshapes the home year. Winters get 8F colder. Summers get 3F cooler. Your growing season is 43 days shorter. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- Garden: a shorter season favors transplants, short-season varieties, and cold frames. Wait for soil to warm before direct sowing.
- Snow and ice: more months below freezing mean roof load, ice dams, and driveway care become regular work. Keep a roof rake and ice melt on hand.
Season by season
Spring starts later
Your last spring frost moves from March 26 to April 11, 16 days later. Delay tender planting and spring openings.
Summers run cooler
The warmest month goes from 79F in July to 76F in July. Cooler peaks mean less cooling stress, but watch humidity and ventilation.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from 34F in January to 26F in January; freezing months go from 0 months to 3 months. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from New York City to Chicago, answered
What is the biggest climate change from New York City to Chicago?
Freezing months go from 0 months to 3 months. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Laguardia Ap 72503 near New York City and Chicago Midway Ap 72534 near Chicago. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Laguardia Ap 72503 (near New York City, NY) and Chicago Midway Ap 72534 (near Chicago, IL). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.