Fox Lake, IL vs Highland Park, IL

The cost of living difference between Fox Lake, IL and Highland Park, IL is dramatic. Fox Lake is 39.6% cheaper than Highland Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fox Lake has a cost index of 86 while Highland Park sits at 142, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fox Lake is $1,059/month compared to $1,903/month in Highland Park — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fox Lake is more affordable at $219,300 median vs $594,400.

Median household income in Fox Lake is $69,896 compared to $161,875 in Highland Park (-56.8%). 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 Fox Lake spend roughly 18.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.1% in Highland Park.

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