Evanston, IL vs Lake in the Hills, IL

Lake in the Hills is moderately more affordable than Evanston, with a 14.9% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 110 for Lake in the Hills, 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 $1,634/month in Lake in the Hills — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lake in the Hills is more affordable at $296,400 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $113,491 in Lake in the Hills (-15.6%). Lake in the Hills 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 17.3% in Lake in the Hills.

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