What is the cost of living in Harvard, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Harvard has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Harvard has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Harvard ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Harvard ranks as the #248 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Harvard, check out:
Harvard Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Harvard. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Harvard is 102.
The Groceries index in Harvard is 102.
The Health index in Harvard is 81.
The Housing index in Harvard is 101.
The Transportation index in Harvard is 99.
The Utilities index in Harvard is 98.
| Living Expense | Harvard | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 81 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Harvard Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Harvard Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Harvard, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Harvard is $267,909.
The Median Rent in Harvard is $1,183.
The Median Income in Harvard is $67,617.
The Home Value To Income in Harvard is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Harvard is 0.21x.
Harvard, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Harvard Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Harvard Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Harvard Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Harvard Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Harvard SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Harvard
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Harvard. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Crystal Lake, IL has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x Harvard.
McHenry, IL has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Harvard.
Woodstock, IL has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Harvard.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake, IL | 40,579 | 107 | 1.2x |
| McHenry, IL | 28,074 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Woodstock, IL | 26,147 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Belvidere, IL | 24,752 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Roscoe, IL | 10,706 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Marengo, IL | 7,040 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Johnsburg, IL | 6,386 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Twin Lakes, WI | 6,309 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Spring Grove, IL | 5,917 | 125 | 1.4x |
