Elmhurst, IL vs Evanston, IL

Evanston is moderately more affordable than Elmhurst, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Elmhurst scores 136 compared to 126 for Evanston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elmhurst can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elmhurst is $1,877/month compared to $1,698/month in Evanston — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Evanston is more affordable at $472,300 median vs $532,800.

Median household income in Elmhurst is $145,374 compared to $95,766 in Evanston (+51.8%). While Elmhurst is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elmhurst spend roughly 15.5% of their income on rent, less than the 21.3% in Evanston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 50.8°F). Elmhurst receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.