Evanston, IL vs Streamwood, IL

Streamwood is moderately more affordable than Evanston, with a 11.5% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 113 for Streamwood, 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 $1,849/month in Streamwood — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Evanston has cheaper rent, Streamwood actually has lower median home values ($258,300 vs $472,300).

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $101,049 in Streamwood (-5.2%). Streamwood 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, less than the 22% in Streamwood.

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