Blue Island, IL vs Hillside, IL

Blue Island is moderately more affordable than Hillside, with a 11.9% lower cost of living index. Blue Island scores 82 compared to 93 for Hillside, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hillside can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Blue Island is $1,071/month compared to $1,265/month in Hillside — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Blue Island is more affordable at $169,800 median vs $233,800.

Median household income in Blue Island is $60,965 compared to $70,772 in Hillside (-13.9%). While Hillside is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Blue Island spend roughly 21.1% of their income on rent, less than the 21.4% in Hillside.