Lake in the Hills, IL vs Wood River, IL

The cost of living difference between Lake in the Hills, IL and Wood River, IL is dramatic. Wood River is 58% cheaper than Lake in the Hills, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Lake in the Hills has a cost index of 110 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 Lake in the Hills is $1,634/month compared to $915/month in Wood River — a 79% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wood River is more affordable at $103,200 median vs $296,400.

Median household income in Lake in the Hills is $113,491 compared to $65,960 in Wood River (+72.1%). While Lake in the Hills is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake in the Hills spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, more than the 16.6% in Wood River.