Cost of Living in Illinois
87 cities • 7,033,320 total population • 2026 Data
$94,244
Avg. Median Income
+22% vs national
$1,404
Avg. Median Rent
+4% vs national
$295,767
Avg. Home Value
-13% vs national
5.2%
Avg. Unemployment
Overview
Illinois has 87 cities with populations over 25,000, totaling 7,033,320 residents. The average median household income across these cities is $94,244, which is 22% above the national median.
Rent averages $1,404 per month, and the average home value is $295,767. The largest city is Chicago, while Galesburg offers the lowest rent and Northbrook has the highest.
Most Affordable Cities in Illinois
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galesburg | $719 | $45,213 | $89,800 |
| 2 | Granite City | $761 | $60,490 | $99,800 |
| 3 | Pekin | $792 | $58,355 | $118,200 |
| 4 | Decatur | $796 | $50,809 | $97,300 |
| 5 | Danville | $809 | $44,239 | $76,800 |
Most Expensive Cities in Illinois
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northbrook | $2,334 | $155,321 | $644,100 |
| 2 | Buffalo Grove | $2,042 | $129,820 | $392,900 |
| 3 | Glenview | $2,027 | $138,758 | $598,800 |
| 4 | Wilmette | $1,968 | $192,300 | $802,200 |
| 5 | Highland Park | $1,903 | $161,875 | $594,400 |
Highest Income Cities in Illinois
| # | City | Median Income | Median Rent | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmette | $192,300 | $1,968 | 27,550 |
| 2 | Highland Park | $161,875 | $1,903 | 30,229 |
| 3 | Northbrook | $155,321 | $2,334 | 34,642 |
| 4 | Naperville | $150,937 | $1,852 | 149,424 |
| 5 | Elmhurst | $145,374 | $1,877 | 45,538 |
All Cities in Illinois
| City | Population | Income | Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 2,707,648 | $75,134 | $1,380 | $315,200 |
| Aurora | 179,867 | $90,109 | $1,535 | $260,400 |
| Joliet | 149,785 | $88,026 | $1,237 | $248,600 |
| Naperville | 149,424 | $150,937 | $1,852 | $509,900 |
| Rockford | 147,649 | $53,328 | $954 | $120,900 |
| Elgin | 114,106 | $88,316 | $1,260 | $252,400 |
| Springfield | 113,714 | $65,537 | $945 | $155,200 |
| Peoria | 112,126 | $58,716 | $951 | $149,500 |
| Waukegan | 88,919 | $70,578 | $1,163 | $177,600 |
| Champaign | 88,822 | $57,544 | $1,103 | $199,700 |
| Cicero | 83,223 | $68,548 | $1,121 | $236,000 |
| Bloomington | 78,703 | $75,449 | $1,004 | $198,800 |
| Schaumburg | 76,780 | $94,690 | $1,774 | $312,200 |
| Evanston | 76,552 | $95,766 | $1,698 | $472,300 |
| Arlington Heights | 76,220 | $118,532 | $1,727 | $403,200 |
| Bolingbrook | 73,813 | $107,552 | $1,718 | $295,500 |
| Decatur | 70,368 | $50,809 | $796 | $97,300 |
| Palatine | 66,548 | $95,950 | $1,467 | $347,900 |
| Skokie | 66,427 | $93,550 | $1,491 | $368,600 |
| Des Plaines | 59,408 | $94,303 | $1,435 | $318,200 |
| Orland Park | 57,961 | $98,979 | $1,415 | $349,400 |
| Oak Lawn | 57,098 | $82,493 | $1,310 | $267,900 |
| Berwyn | 55,888 | $75,235 | $1,175 | $286,000 |
| Mount Prospect | 55,648 | $103,911 | $1,454 | $377,000 |
| Tinley Park | 55,007 | $103,819 | $1,518 | $289,000 |
| Wheaton | 53,453 | $119,566 | $1,731 | $447,700 |
| Oak Park | 53,315 | $108,026 | $1,456 | $456,300 |
| Normal | 52,908 | $66,350 | $974 | $199,900 |
| Hoffman Estates | 51,186 | $109,683 | $1,764 | $340,400 |
| Downers Grove | 49,867 | $119,649 | $1,589 | $439,000 |
| Glenview | 47,682 | $138,758 | $2,027 | $598,800 |
| Plainfield | 45,705 | $142,265 | $1,889 | $398,000 |
| Elmhurst | 45,538 | $145,374 | $1,877 | $532,800 |
| Lombard | 43,722 | $97,253 | $1,834 | $321,200 |
| Buffalo Grove | 42,824 | $129,820 | $2,042 | $392,900 |
| Moline | 42,235 | $63,959 | $887 | $141,900 |
| Belleville | 41,722 | $60,529 | $947 | $131,000 |
| Romeoville | 40,996 | $100,022 | $1,892 | $245,200 |
| Bartlett | 40,531 | $130,479 | $1,857 | $350,500 |
| DeKalb | 40,464 | $46,564 | $1,030 | $202,900 |
| Crystal Lake | 40,436 | $105,428 | $1,431 | $287,400 |
| Carol Stream | 39,427 | $105,395 | $1,465 | $308,700 |
| Park Ridge | 39,241 | $138,059 | $1,511 | $539,300 |
| Quincy | 39,188 | $56,372 | $824 | $146,100 |
| Streamwood | 39,055 | $101,049 | $1,849 | $258,300 |
| Wheeling | 38,495 | $83,251 | $1,578 | $244,600 |
| Urbana | 38,447 | $45,854 | $951 | $186,300 |
| Carpentersville | 37,544 | $86,327 | $1,420 | $225,200 |
| Hanover Park | 36,850 | $92,263 | $1,478 | $260,900 |
| Rock Island | 36,758 | $57,292 | $819 | $118,400 |
| Addison | 35,470 | $87,587 | $1,238 | $318,000 |
| Oswego | 35,463 | $119,881 | $1,823 | $319,000 |
| Calumet City | 35,253 | $53,991 | $1,138 | $133,600 |
| Northbrook | 34,642 | $155,321 | $2,334 | $644,100 |
| Woodridge | 33,889 | $97,263 | $1,547 | $345,200 |
| Glendale Heights | 32,864 | $82,232 | $1,562 | $249,000 |
| St. Charles | 32,733 | $115,350 | $1,788 | $369,700 |
| O'Fallon | 32,139 | $102,793 | $1,312 | $274,100 |
| Elk Grove Village | 32,132 | $95,216 | $1,574 | $334,400 |
| Pekin | 31,812 | $58,355 | $792 | $118,200 |
| Mundelein | 31,632 | $107,608 | $1,564 | $285,600 |
| North Chicago | 30,772 | $56,815 | $1,392 | $147,800 |
| Gurnee | 30,486 | $121,410 | $1,594 | $331,100 |
| Niles | 30,262 | $78,563 | $1,247 | $350,900 |
| Highland Park | 30,229 | $161,875 | $1,903 | $594,400 |
| Algonquin | 29,904 | $131,753 | $1,800 | $324,000 |
| Galesburg | 29,653 | $45,213 | $719 | $89,800 |
| Lake in the Hills | 28,853 | $113,491 | $1,634 | $296,400 |
| Burbank | 28,822 | $83,975 | $1,241 | $258,900 |
| Danville | 28,663 | $44,239 | $809 | $76,800 |
| Lansing | 28,415 | $71,805 | $1,271 | $168,500 |
| Glen Ellyn | 28,270 | $133,346 | $1,326 | $522,600 |
| Huntley | 27,859 | $86,349 | $1,385 | $318,500 |
| McHenry | 27,774 | $86,865 | $1,508 | $244,900 |
| Wilmette | 27,550 | $192,300 | $1,968 | $802,200 |
| New Lenox | 27,456 | $133,071 | $1,244 | $377,500 |
| Round Lake Beach | 27,081 | $86,632 | $1,382 | $191,200 |
| Chicago Heights | 26,938 | $57,479 | $1,035 | $149,900 |
| Oak Forest | 26,888 | $87,941 | $1,287 | $247,800 |
| Vernon Hills | 26,772 | $120,625 | $1,855 | $384,800 |
| Batavia | 26,730 | $119,167 | $1,255 | $358,000 |
| Granite City | 26,670 | $60,490 | $761 | $99,800 |
| Edwardsville | 26,543 | $92,671 | $1,231 | $286,700 |
| Woodstock | 26,316 | $83,293 | $1,174 | $231,100 |
| Lockport | 26,228 | $113,252 | $1,503 | $298,800 |
| West Chicago | 25,434 | $100,568 | $1,376 | $306,500 |
| Alton | 25,430 | $53,005 | $948 | $99,500 |
Data Sources
All data from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. State averages calculated from cities with population over 25,000.