Evanston, IL vs Gurnee, IL

Gurnee is moderately more affordable than Evanston, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 111 for Gurnee, 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 $1,594/month in Gurnee — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gurnee is more affordable at $331,100 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $121,410 in Gurnee (-21.1%). Gurnee 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 15.8% in Gurnee.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 48.3°F). Gurnee receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.