Top 10 Data Centers in Chicago: Complete Comparison Guide 2025

# Top 10 Data Centers in Chicago: Complete Comparison Guide 2025 Chicago ranks as the third-largest data center market in the United States, serving as a critical telecommunications hub connecting East and West Coast networks. This comprehensive guide examines the top 10 data center facilities in the Chicago metro area. ## Why Chicago for Data Centers? Chicago offers unmatched advantages: - **Central Location**: Optimal latency for serving nationwide markets - **Carrier Density**: Highest concentration of fiber networks outside NYC - **Financial Hub**: Direct connectivity to CME Group and trading platforms - **Internet Exchanges**: Multiple peering points including Equinix Chicago - **Tier III/IV Facilities**: World-class infrastructure and reliability ## Top 10 Chicago Data Centers ### 1. Equinix CH1-CH4 (Chicago IBX) **Location**: Downtown Chicago **Highlights**: - Premier carrier hotel with 300+ networks - Ultra-low latency to CME Group - Extensive cloud on-ramps (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) - 99.9999% uptime SLA **Best For**: Financial services, high-frequency trading, enterprises requiring dense connectivity **Pricing**: Premium (Quarter rack: $500-800/month) ### 2. Digital Realty 350 E. Cermak **Location**: Downtown Chicago **Highlights**: - 1.1 million square feet across multiple buildings - Major internet exchange point - Massive carrier presence (100+ providers) - Scalable from racks to full suites **Best For**: Enterprises, content providers, network operators **Pricing**: $400-700/month (quarter rack) ### 3. CyrusOne Chicago West **Location**: Franklin Park (Suburb) **Highlights**: - Modern facility with high-density power capabilities - Cost-effective alternative to downtown - Excellent fiber connectivity - Flexible space configurations **Best For**: Cloud providers, enterprises needing cost efficiency **Pricing**: $300-500/month (quarter rack) ### 4. DataBank Chicago (CHI1) **Location**: Des Plaines **Highlights**: - Carrier-neutral with 50+ network providers - SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS certified - 24/7/365 on-site support - Private suite options **Best For**: Healthcare, financial services, SaaS providers **Pricing**: $350-600/month (quarter rack) ### 5. Stream Data Centers ORD10 **Location**: Northlake **Highlights**: - Purpose-built for hyperscale and enterprise - Energy-efficient design (PUE 1.25) - Adjacent to major fiber routes - Scalable power (up to 50kW per rack) **Best For**: High-density deployments, AI/ML workloads **Pricing**: $400-650/month (quarter rack) ### 6. CBRE Data Center Solutions (formerly Telx Chicago) **Location**: Downtown Chicago **Highlights**: - Historic carrier hotel - Dense network connectivity - Financial services focus - Meet-me room access **Best For**: Financial firms, network operators **Pricing**: $450-750/month (quarter rack) ### 7. Cologix CHI1 **Location**: Hammond, IN (Chicago metro) **Highlights**: - Carrier-neutral interconnection hub - Lower-cost alternative to downtown - Growing network ecosystem - Good fiber diversity **Best For**: Regional businesses, cost-conscious enterprises **Pricing**: $250-450/month (quarter rack) ### 8. Iron Mountain Chicago **Location**: Northbrook **Highlights**: - Strong focus on data management and security - Compliance certifications (SSAE 18, SOC 2) - Hybrid cloud capabilities - Disaster recovery services **Best For**: Enterprises with compliance requirements **Pricing**: $350-600/month (quarter rack) ### 9. QTS Chicago Metro Data Center **Location**: Elk Grove Village **Highlights**: - Mega-scale facility - Custom infrastructure solutions - Strong cloud connectivity - Flexible contract terms **Best For**: Hyperscale deployments, cloud providers **Pricing**: $300-550/month (quarter rack) ### 10. vXchnge Chicago **Location**: Elk Grove Village **Highlights**: - Boutique provider with personalized service - Cost-effective colocation - Good network diversity - Flexible power options **Best For**: Small to mid-size businesses **Pricing**: $250-450/month (quarter rack) ## Comparison Table | Provider | Location | Carrier Count | Certifications | Best Use Case | |----------|----------|---------------|----------------|---------------| | Equinix | Downtown | 300+ | All major | Trading, Financial | | Digital Realty | Downtown | 100+ | All major | Enterprise, Large-scale | | CyrusOne | Suburb | 30+ | SOC 2, HIPAA | Cost-efficient Enterprise | | DataBank | Suburb | 50+ | HIPAA, PCI-DSS | Healthcare, SaaS | | Stream | Suburb | 25+ | SOC 2 | High-density, Hyperscale | ## How to Choose the Right Chicago Data Center **Consider Location**: - Downtown facilities offer premium connectivity at higher costs - Suburban facilities provide cost savings with excellent connectivity - Consider latency requirements to your users and partners **Evaluate Network Connectivity**: - Number of on-net carriers - Cross-connect costs to needed networks - Internet exchange access - Direct cloud on-ramps **Assess Power Requirements**: - Current power needs per rack - Future growth projections - High-density capabilities (>10kW per rack) - Power redundancy (N+1, 2N) **Review Certifications**: - SOC 2 for SaaS providers - HIPAA for healthcare - PCI-DSS for payment processing - SSAE 18 for financial audits **Check SLA and Support**: - Uptime guarantees (aim for 99.99%+) - Remote hands availability and costs - Technical support response times - Customer portal capabilities ## Chicago Market Insights **Market Size**: 75+ facilities, 1,000+ MW capacity **Growth Rate**: 7-9% annually **Average Pricing**: $250-800/month (quarter rack) **Key Industries**: Financial services, trading, healthcare, technology ## Connectivity Options Major carriers in Chicago: - Zayo - Level 3 (Lumen) - Comcast Business - AT&T - Verizon - Cogent - GTT - Telia Internet exchanges: - Equinix Chicago - AMS-IX Chicago ## Conclusion Chicago offers world-class data center options for every business need and budget. Downtown facilities excel in connectivity density and financial services capabilities, while suburban options provide excellent value with strong infrastructure. When selecting a Chicago data center, prioritize your specific requirements: connectivity needs, compliance requirements, budget constraints, and growth plans.