Evanston, IL vs Glen Ellyn, IL

Glen Ellyn is moderately more affordable than Evanston, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 119 for Glen Ellyn, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Evanston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $1,326/month in Glen Ellyn — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Glen Ellyn has cheaper rent, Evanston actually has lower median home values ($472,300 vs $522,600).

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $133,346 in Glen Ellyn (-28.2%). Glen Ellyn offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 11.9% in Glen Ellyn.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 49.7°F). Glen Ellyn receives more rainfall at 33.2" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.