Chicago vs Orlando
Orlando leads Chicago by 1 points on the TRAIL Index, 70 to 69. Chicago grades better on 4 measures, Orlando on 8; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Chicago 69, Orlando 70
- OECD: Chicago 67, Orlando 70
- UN Tourism: Chicago 64, Orlando 75
- UNDRR: Chicago 66, Orlando 66
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Chicago 70, Orlando 83
- Economy and jobs: Chicago 92, Orlando 81
- Climate and hazards: Chicago 65, Orlando 45
- Water and environment: Chicago 50, Orlando 75
- Community and housing: Chicago 75, Orlando 50
- Access and continuity: Chicago 71, Orlando 79
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.
- Tropical nights: 34.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 2/4.
- Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- 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 Orlando 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: 17.4 % of international arrivals or nights (metro figure) (Visit Orlando reported via Travel Weekly & Travelweek, 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
- Recovery against 2019: 101.1 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (metro figure) (Visit Orlando, Data and Trends & Historical Visitor Volume, 2025). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
- Unemployment rate: 4.7 % of the labour force (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economy at a Glance: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Green space: 22 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (USDA Forest Service / City of Atlantic Beach Tree Canopy Assessment (citing Nowak et al.), 2009). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
- Rent growth: -1.5 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, Orlando, FL Rent Report (October 2026), October 2025–September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (Orange County Comptroller, 2026). 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 · Orlando in full
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