Highland Park, IL vs Wood River, IL

The cost of living difference between Highland Park, IL and Wood River, IL is dramatic. Wood River is 104.9% 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 Wood River sits at 69, 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 $915/month in Wood River — a 108% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wood River is more affordable at $103,200 median vs $594,400.

Median household income in Highland Park is $161,875 compared to $65,960 in Wood River (+145.4%). 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 16.6% in Wood River.