The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois For 2024


The most expensive cities in Illinois are South Barrington and Winnetka for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

If you guessed that many of Illinois’ most expensive places are located around Chicago, you guessed right. The northeast corner of Illinois has a long history of exorbitant home prices, high property taxes, and people who can afford to pay these premium price tags.

Yes, Illinoisans can thank famous mobsters like Al Capone, professional athletes like Michael Jordan, and the CEOs of the state’s 36 Fortune 500 companies for driving up the cost in the state’s most expensive places. More importantly, you can thank HomeSnacks for creating a list of the most expensive places in Illinois for 2024 so that anyone thinking about moving to The Land of Lincoln will know how to navigate the state’s pricey pockets.

Before you head down to our list of Illinois’ top ten most expensive places, it’s important to note how we calculated our list. First, we looked at the American Community Survey for places with at least 5,000 residents. We then looked at the home to income ratio and the rent to income ratio for each place. This left us with 328 Illinois places that will require you to make at least $158,663/year to offset your cost of living.

So, if you want to know what it’s going to take to live in one of the most expensive places in one of the most expensive states in America, take a look below.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois For 2024

  1. South Barrington
  2. Winnetka
  3. Hinsdale
  4. Glencoe
  5. Lake Forest
  6. Oak Brook
  7. Inverness
  8. Hawthorn Woods
  9. Long Grove
  10. Burr Ridge

What’s the most expensive place to live in Illinois? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that South Barrington is the most expensive place to live in Illinois.

Centralia (the cheapest place to live in Illinois) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.

And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Illinois and the most expensive cities in the country:

The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Illinois For 2024

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 5,001
Cost Of Living Index: 208
Median Income: $226,042
Average Home Price: $957,504
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on South Barrington: Data | Crime | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in South Barrington is 208. The median income in South Barrington comes in at $226,042 and the average home value is $957,504 for 2024.

Winnetka, IL

Source: Wikipedia User anarchosyn | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 12,607
Cost Of Living Index: 204
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,450,397
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.8x
More on Winnetka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Winnetka is 204. The median income in Winnetka comes in at $250,001 and the average home value is $1,450,397 for 2024.

Hinsdale, IL

Source: Wikipedia User Teemu08 at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 17,169
Cost Of Living Index: 190
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,010,524
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Hinsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Hinsdale is 190. The median income in Hinsdale comes in at $250,001 and the average home value is $1,010,524 for 2024.

Glencoe, IL

Source: Wikipedia User User:JeremyA | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 8,787
Cost Of Living Index: 190
Median Income: $228,750
Average Home Price: $1,230,212
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Glencoe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Glencoe is 190. The median income in Glencoe comes in at $228,750 and the average home value is $1,230,212 for 2024.

Lake Forest, IL

Source: Wikipedia User Teemu08 (talk) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 19,436
Cost Of Living Index: 189
Median Income: $202,153
Average Home Price: $997,291
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.9x
More on Lake Forest: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Lake Forest is 189. The median income in Lake Forest comes in at $202,153 and the average home value is $997,291 for 2024.

Oak Brook, IL

Source: Wikipedia User Tony Alter | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 8,065
Cost Of Living Index: 188
Median Income: $158,663
Average Home Price: $823,438
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.2x
More on Oak Brook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Oak Brook is 188. The median income in Oak Brook comes in at $158,663 and the average home value is $823,438 for 2024.

Inverness, IL

Source: Wikipedia User Neva O’Laughlin | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 7,722
Cost Of Living Index: 170
Median Income: $207,623
Average Home Price: $700,604
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Inverness: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Inverness is 170. The median income in Inverness comes in at $207,623 and the average home value is $700,604 for 2024.

Hawthorn Woods, IL

Source: Flickr User Peg Syverson | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 9,111
Cost Of Living Index: 168
Median Income: $215,817
Average Home Price: $632,847
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x
More on Hawthorn Woods: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Hawthorn Woods is 168. The median income in Hawthorn Woods comes in at $215,817 and the average home value is $632,847 for 2024.

Long Grove, IL

Source: Wikipedia User bogdanstepniak | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 8,279
Cost Of Living Index: 167
Median Income: $236,172
Average Home Price: $799,502
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Long Grove: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Long Grove is 167. The median income in Long Grove comes in at $236,172 and the average home value is $799,502 for 2024.

Burr Ridge, IL

Source: Flickr User Teemu008 | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 11,131
Cost Of Living Index: 165
Median Income: $174,342
Average Home Price: $724,731
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on Burr Ridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Burr Ridge is 165. The median income in Burr Ridge comes in at $174,342 and the average home value is $724,731 for 2024.

Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Prairie State For 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Illinois are:

  1. How much money do I make?
  2. How much do I have to spend to live there?

You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.

For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.

With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:

  • Overall Cost Of Living Index
  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Illinois to figure out which is the most expensive.

You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.

So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 328 places in Illinois that have more than 5,000 people.

The place with the highest cost of living in Illinois according to the data is South Barrington. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Illinois.

Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Illinois For 2024

Well, there you have it, the places in Illinois that have the highest cost of living, with South Barrington ranking as the most expensive city in the Prairie State.

The most expensive cities in Illinois are South Barrington, Winnetka, Hinsdale, Glencoe, Lake Forest, Oak Brook, Inverness, Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove, and Burr Ridge.

Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Illinois according to the data:

  1. Centralia
  2. Mattoon
  3. Pana

For more Illinois reading, check out:

Most Expensive Cities In Illinois

Rank City Cost Of Living Population Median Income Average Home Price Home/Income Ratio
1 South Barrington 208 5,001 $226,042 $957,504 4.2x
2 Winnetka 204 12,607 $250,001 $1,450,397 5.8x
3 Hinsdale 190 17,169 $250,001 $1,010,524 4.0x
4 Glencoe 190 8,787 $228,750 $1,230,212 5.4x
5 Lake Forest 189 19,436 $202,153 $997,291 4.9x
6 Oak Brook 188 8,065 $158,663 $823,438 5.2x
7 Inverness 170 7,722 $207,623 $700,604 3.4x
8 Hawthorn Woods 168 9,111 $215,817 $632,847 2.9x
9 Long Grove 167 8,279 $236,172 $799,502 3.4x
10 Burr Ridge 165 11,131 $174,342 $724,731 4.2x
11 Wilmette 162 27,801 $183,750 $792,941 4.3x
12 Lake Bluff 160 5,919 $190,179 $531,837 2.8x
13 Northfield 160 5,707 $146,538 $689,829 4.7x
14 River Forest 154 11,568 $144,784 $625,449 4.3x
15 Western Springs 153 13,557 $198,836 $700,654 3.5x
16 Northbrook 152 34,950 $150,236 $573,899 3.8x
17 Highland Park 152 30,209 $159,567 $633,282 4.0x
18 Lincolnshire 152 7,907 $155,395 $626,704 4.0x
19 Deerfield 150 19,173 $185,762 $520,189 2.8x
20 Barrington 145 11,244 $160,171 $536,565 3.3x
21 Glenview 144 47,896 $134,910 $556,329 4.1x
22 La Grange 138 16,128 $141,235 $522,753 3.7x
23 Lincolnwood 138 13,268 $99,390 $473,704 4.8x
24 Clarendon Hills 138 8,658 $115,923 $561,818 4.8x
25 Campton Hills 135 10,556 $192,432 $570,534 3.0x
26 Libertyville 133 20,555 $161,302 $523,474 3.2x
27 Park Ridge 132 39,368 $137,964 $491,808 3.6x
28 Naperville 131 149,089 $143,754 $527,805 3.7x
29 Elmhurst 131 45,648 $143,492 $500,450 3.5x
30 Glen Ellyn 131 28,304 $128,132 $483,880 3.8x
31 Riverside 131 9,225 $149,464 $476,379 3.2x
32 Evanston 130 77,181 $93,188 $410,543 4.4x
33 Lake Barrington 130 5,377 $126,316 $434,652 3.4x
34 Wheaton 128 53,673 $113,523 $431,270 3.8x
35 Downers Grove 127 49,996 $115,461 $424,001 3.7x
36 Vernon Hills 126 26,750 $117,253 $378,263 3.2x
37 Willow Springs 126 5,862 $100,775 $336,794 3.3x
38 Oak Park 125 53,834 $103,264 $391,539 3.8x
39 Buffalo Grove 125 42,934 $127,553 $378,470 3.0x
40 Homer Glen 125 24,507 $130,235 $460,898 3.5x
41 Frankfort 124 20,260 $157,615 $439,784 2.8x
42 Lemont 124 17,558 $128,694 $491,388 3.8x
43 Winfield 124 9,947 $136,696 $401,970 2.9x
44 Highwood 124 5,227 $105,282 $389,661 3.7x
45 Morton Grove 123 24,910 $102,940 $375,363 3.6x
46 Lisle 123 23,499 $106,265 $368,104 3.5x
47 Lake Zurich 123 19,749 $135,211 $420,351 3.1x
48 Arlington Heights 122 76,794 $113,502 $403,495 3.6x
49 Plainfield 122 44,941 $143,064 $363,320 2.5x
50 La Grange Park 122 13,332 $113,419 $412,033 3.6x
51 Geneva 121 21,390 $132,799 $465,349 3.5x
52 Palos Heights 121 11,965 $105,366 $354,730 3.4x
53 Flossmoor 121 9,405 $140,703 $318,241 2.3x
54 Skokie 120 67,076 $91,892 $358,422 3.9x
55 Westmont 120 24,271 $82,519 $347,110 4.2x
56 Darien 119 21,953 $110,546 $391,312 3.5x
57 Itasca 119 9,627 $113,162 $380,589 3.4x
58 Oswego 118 34,810 $112,109 $366,702 3.3x
59 St. Charles 118 32,776 $110,346 $402,795 3.7x
60 Mount Prospect 117 56,191 $100,526 $372,693 3.7x
61 Hoffman Estates 117 51,744 $107,428 $343,446 3.2x
62 Bartlett 117 40,829 $126,555 $383,920 3.0x
63 Elk Grove Village 117 32,498 $93,832 $334,824 3.6x
64 Bloomingdale 117 22,435 $96,779 $375,771 3.9x
65 Mokena 117 19,886 $122,235 $406,985 3.3x
66 Prospect Heights 117 15,861 $84,459 $272,322 3.2x
67 Sugar Grove 117 9,251 $118,628 $393,885 3.3x
68 West Dundee 117 7,845 $99,653 $366,743 3.7x
69 Gurnee 116 30,629 $112,633 $331,348 2.9x
70 Batavia 116 26,355 $113,824 $394,060 3.5x
71 Roselle 116 22,846 $104,167 $331,035 3.2x
72 Palatine 115 67,223 $93,383 $312,692 3.3x
73 Orland Park 115 58,345 $97,365 $367,054 3.8x
74 Lombard 115 44,055 $95,509 $328,254 3.4x
75 Niles 115 30,637 $75,783 $348,195 4.6x
76 Westchester 115 16,694 $101,414 $316,020 3.1x
77 Norridge 115 15,291 $84,539 $354,846 4.2x
78 Schaumburg 114 77,571 $92,818 $304,016 3.3x
79 Mundelein 114 31,583 $99,924 $321,147 3.2x
80 West Chicago 114 25,632 $92,335 $331,937 3.6x
81 Yorkville 114 21,273 $105,322 $357,096 3.4x
82 Willowbrook 114 9,177 $95,649 $294,149 3.1x
83 Gilberts 114 8,180 $120,568 $358,792 3.0x
84 Chicago 113 2,721,914 $71,673 $283,025 3.9x
85 Woodridge 113 34,027 $95,756 $356,860 3.7x
86 Rolling Meadows 113 24,054 $91,287 $288,538 3.2x
87 Warrenville 113 13,945 $95,919 $307,146 3.2x
88 Bolingbrook 112 73,755 $102,057 $317,734 3.1x
89 North Aurora 112 17,750 $104,547 $338,366 3.2x
90 Wood Dale 112 13,903 $86,441 $304,707 3.5x
91 Des Plaines 111 60,087 $86,552 $293,438 3.4x
92 Grayslake 111 20,801 $110,662 $311,008 2.8x
93 Lindenhurst 111 14,403 $124,690 $300,487 2.4x
94 Wauconda 111 14,040 $108,229 $292,235 2.7x
95 Harwood Heights 111 8,942 $77,617 $336,787 4.3x
96 Volo 111 6,368 $128,389 $321,791 2.5x
97 Elburn 111 5,958 $106,347 $400,516 3.8x
98 Carol Stream 110 39,656 $103,525 $330,804 3.2x
99 Lockport 110 26,119 $106,923 $315,083 2.9x
100 South Elgin 110 23,841 $118,293 $318,828 2.7x
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.