Housing & affordability in Chicago

ACS 2020–24 · four inputs · 18% of the overall score

D−

42/100
48th of 60

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The four inputs

Median home value vs metro$334,100

Chicago $323,00040% · scores 52

Median rent vs metro$1,440/mo

Chicago $1,430/mo30% · scores 51

Ownership rate46%

Chicago 66%15% · scores 20

Households spending >30% of income on housing39%

Chicago 33%15% · scores 20

Context, not scored

Median year built · Chicago 19711953

Houses rather than flats · Chicago 59%29%

Households with children · Chicago 30%23%

Neither direction is better here, so none of it moves the grade. It is on the page because it changes what a place is like to live in.

Vertical rule marks the Chicago reference. ACS 2020–24. Every scale is on the methodology page.

Best Chicago suburbs for housing

All 60 ranked, Chicago highlighted

1NorthbrookA−$652,300 2ElmhurstB$545,400 3GlenviewB$609,600 4Highland ParkB$607,300 5PlainfieldB$431,400 6NapervilleB$540,200 7Park RidgeB−$551,200 8BartlettB−$375,700 9Buffalo GroveB−$412,300 10AlgonquinC+$351,000 11WheatonC+$455,700 12OswegoC+$344,500 13Downers GroveC+$449,800 14Arlington HeightsC+$414,500 15St. CharlesC$377,400 16Hoffman EstatesC$351,900 17StreamwoodC$271,200 18GurneeC$344,300 19LombardC$335,700 20Des PlainesC$335,600 21Crown PointC$294,800 22Oak ParkC$465,500 23EvanstonC$481,200 24Tinley ParkC$299,900 25BolingbrookC$314,700 26Orland ParkC$367,200 27Elk Grove VillageC−$347,100 28RomeovilleC−$257,100 29SkokieC−$387,200 30Crystal LakeC−$311,400 31Mount ProspectC−$397,400 32SchaumburgC−$330,400 33MundeleinC−$309,700 34ScherervilleC−$314,900 35Carol StreamC−$335,000 36WoodridgeC−$363,700 37PalatineC−$355,600 38Hanover ParkC−$274,200 39NilesD+$358,700 40Oak LawnD+$281,200 41AddisonD+$341,300 42AuroraD+$274,800 43JolietD$265,800 44ElginD$273,000 45CarpentersvilleD$234,100 46WheelingD$266,200 47Glendale HeightsD$261,700 48ChicagoD−$334,100 49PortageD−$224,200 50ValparaisoD−$267,300 51BerwynD−$299,800 52HobartD−$215,200 53MerrillvilleD−$211,400 54CiceroF$249,400 55WaukeganF$190,900 56HammondF$159,900 57DeKalbF$204,700 58North ChicagoF$159,600 59Calumet CityF$145,200 60GaryF$94,700

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Better than Chicago on housing & affordability

Chicago grades D− on housing & affordability. Six suburbs are within 25 miles and score higher on the same four inputs.

SuburbHousingMedian home valueOwnership rateOverall

Northbrook22 mi from ChicagoA−$652k87% 74 B Elmhurst14 mi from ChicagoB$545k80% 70 B− Glenview19 mi from ChicagoB$610k79% 72 B− Highland Park25 mi from ChicagoB$607k84% 71 B− Park Ridge15 mi from ChicagoB−$551k85% 69 B− Wheaton22 mi from ChicagoC+$456k72% 69 B−

Median home value: ACS 2020–24 · Ownership rate: ACS 2020–24

Six Chicago lists

Best Chicago suburbs for families Most affordable Chicago suburbs Best Chicago suburbs for schools Shortest commutes to Downtown Chicago Most walkable Chicago suburbs Best Chicago suburbs for young professionals

Compare Chicago

Chicago vs Cicero Every Chicago suburb, side by side

How this works

How we score Chicago suburbs — every weight and source Twelve guides to moving to Chicago