Chicago Ridge, IL vs Crystal Lake, IL

Chicago Ridge is moderately more affordable than Crystal Lake, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Chicago Ridge scores 90 compared to 103 for Crystal Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Crystal Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chicago Ridge is $1,198/month compared to $1,431/month in Crystal Lake — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chicago Ridge is more affordable at $217,800 median vs $287,400.

Median household income in Chicago Ridge is $69,389 compared to $105,428 in Crystal Lake (-34.2%). While Crystal Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chicago Ridge spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Crystal Lake.