Darien, IL vs Wheaton, IL

Darien is moderately more affordable than Wheaton, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Darien scores 118 compared to 125 for Wheaton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wheaton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Darien is $1,671/month compared to $1,731/month in Wheaton — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Darien is more affordable at $386,400 median vs $447,700.

Median household income in Darien is $109,354 compared to $119,566 in Wheaton (-8.5%). While Wheaton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Darien spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Wheaton.