Gurnee, IL vs Markham, IL

Markham is moderately more affordable than Gurnee, with a 14.9% lower cost of living index. Gurnee scores 111 compared to 97 for Markham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gurnee can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gurnee is $1,594/month compared to $1,689/month in Markham — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gurnee has cheaper rent, Markham actually has lower median home values ($119,500 vs $331,100).

Median household income in Gurnee is $121,410 compared to $52,364 in Markham (+131.9%). While Gurnee is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gurnee spend roughly 15.8% of their income on rent, less than the 38.7% in Markham. The Gurnee ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, Markham is notably warmer with an average of 52.1°F compared to 48.3°F in Gurnee. Gurnee receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 34.4" in Markham.