Crystal Lake, IL vs Forest Park, IL

Crystal Lake, IL and Forest Park, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.9% difference in their overall index. Crystal Lake scores 103 while Forest Park scores 101 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crystal Lake is $1,431/month compared to $1,352/month in Forest Park — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest Park has cheaper rent, Crystal Lake actually has lower median home values ($287,400 vs $293,800).

Median household income in Crystal Lake is $105,428 compared to $81,323 in Forest Park (+29.6%). 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 Crystal Lake spend roughly 16.3% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Forest Park.