Hillside, IL vs Rolling Meadows, IL

Hillside is moderately more affordable than Rolling Meadows, with a 13.4% lower cost of living index. Hillside scores 93 compared to 108 for Rolling Meadows, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Rolling Meadows can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hillside is $1,265/month compared to $1,563/month in Rolling Meadows — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hillside is more affordable at $233,800 median vs $299,700.

Median household income in Hillside is $70,772 compared to $100,424 in Rolling Meadows (-29.5%). While Rolling Meadows is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hillside spend roughly 21.4% of their income on rent, more than the 18.7% in Rolling Meadows.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 50.8°F). Hillside receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 32.3" in Rolling Meadows.