Evanston, IL vs McHenry, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. McHenry is 24% cheaper than Evanston. With a cost index of 102 vs 126, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from McHenry to Evanston should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $1,508/month in McHenry — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: McHenry is more affordable at $244,900 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $86,865 in McHenry (+10.2%). Evanston 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 Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 20.8% in McHenry.

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