Hillside, IL vs South Elgin, IL

Hillside is moderately more affordable than South Elgin, with a 14.5% lower cost of living index. Hillside scores 93 compared to 109 for South Elgin, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of South Elgin 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 $1,619/month in South Elgin — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hillside is more affordable at $233,800 median vs $296,100.

Median household income in Hillside is $70,772 compared to $123,744 in South Elgin (-42.8%). While South Elgin 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 15.7% in South Elgin.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 49.7°F). Hillside receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 33.2" in South Elgin.