Niles, IL vs Palatine, IL

Niles is moderately more affordable than Palatine, with a 5.9% lower cost of living index. Niles scores 102 compared to 109 for Palatine, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Palatine can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Niles is $1,247/month compared to $1,467/month in Palatine — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Niles has cheaper rent, Palatine actually has lower median home values ($347,900 vs $350,900).

Median household income in Niles is $78,563 compared to $95,950 in Palatine (-18.1%). While Palatine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Niles spend roughly 19% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Palatine.

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