Carpentersville, IL vs Evanston, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Carpentersville is 22.8% cheaper than Evanston. With a cost index of 97 vs 126, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Carpentersville to Evanston should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Carpentersville is $1,420/month compared to $1,698/month in Evanston — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carpentersville is more affordable at $225,200 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Carpentersville is $86,327 compared to $95,766 in Evanston (-9.9%). Evanston does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Carpentersville spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, less than the 21.3% in Evanston.