Evanston, IL vs Highland Park, IL

Evanston is moderately more affordable than Highland Park, with a 11.4% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 142 for Highland Park, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Highland Park 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 $1,903/month in Highland Park — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Evanston is more affordable at $472,300 median vs $594,400.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $161,875 in Highland Park (-40.8%). While Highland Park is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 14.1% in Highland Park.

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