Burnham, IL vs Markham, IL

Burnham is moderately more affordable than Markham, with a 13.6% lower cost of living index. Burnham scores 84 compared to 97 for Markham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Markham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burnham is $1,183/month compared to $1,689/month in Markham — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Burnham has cheaper rent, Markham actually has lower median home values ($119,500 vs $146,400).

Median household income in Burnham is $55,708 compared to $52,364 in Markham (+6.4%). Burnham offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Burnham spend roughly 25.5% of their income on rent, less than the 38.7% in Markham. The Burnham ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.