Elmwood Park, IL vs Oak Lawn, IL

Elmwood Park, IL and Oak Lawn, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.3% difference in their overall index. Elmwood Park scores 102 while Oak Lawn scores 98 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 Elmwood Park is $1,295/month compared to $1,310/month in Oak Lawn — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elmwood Park has cheaper rent, Oak Lawn actually has lower median home values ($267,900 vs $325,000).

Median household income in Elmwood Park is $84,121 compared to $82,493 in Oak Lawn (+2%). Elmwood Park 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 Elmwood Park spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in Oak Lawn.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 52.1°F). Elmwood Park receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 34.4" in Oak Lawn.