Bloomington, IL vs North Chicago, IL

Bloomington is moderately more affordable than North Chicago, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Bloomington scores 79 compared to 90 for North Chicago, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of North Chicago can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,004/month compared to $1,392/month in North Chicago — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bloomington has cheaper rent, North Chicago actually has lower median home values ($147,800 vs $198,800).

Median household income in Bloomington is $75,449 compared to $56,815 in North Chicago (+32.8%). Bloomington offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in North Chicago.