Evanston, IL vs Oswego, IL

Oswego is moderately more affordable than Evanston, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 117 for Oswego, 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 $1,823/month in Oswego — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Evanston has cheaper rent, Oswego actually has lower median home values ($319,000 vs $472,300).

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $119,881 in Oswego (-20.1%). Oswego 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 18.2% in Oswego.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 49.4°F). Oswego receives more rainfall at 33.8" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.