Arlington Heights, IL vs Buffalo Grove, IL

Arlington Heights is moderately more affordable than Buffalo Grove, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Arlington Heights scores 121 compared to 130 for Buffalo Grove, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Buffalo Grove can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington Heights is $1,727/month compared to $2,042/month in Buffalo Grove — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Arlington Heights has cheaper rent, Buffalo Grove actually has lower median home values ($392,900 vs $403,200).

Median household income in Arlington Heights is $118,532 compared to $129,820 in Buffalo Grove (-8.7%). While Buffalo Grove is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington Heights spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, less than the 18.9% in Buffalo Grove.