Highland Park, IL vs Summit, IL

The cost of living difference between Highland Park, IL and Summit, IL is dramatic. Summit is 67.5% cheaper than Highland Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Highland Park has a cost index of 142 while Summit sits at 85, 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 Highland Park is $1,903/month compared to $1,012/month in Summit — a 88% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Summit is more affordable at $224,800 median vs $594,400.

Median household income in Highland Park is $161,875 compared to $60,417 in Summit (+167.9%). 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 Highland Park spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 20.1% in Summit.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 52.1°F). Summit receives more rainfall at 34.4" per year compared to 32.3" in Highland Park.