Highwood, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Highwood, IL Summary

Cost of living in Highwood research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Highwood is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Highwood is 131, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Highwood is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Highwood ranks as the #303 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Highwood ranks as the #5,035 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Highwood is $467,537.

  • The median income in Highwood is $101,862.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
131
Highwood's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Highwood, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Highwood has an overall cost of living index of 131, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Highwood has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Highwood ranks as #303 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Highwood ranks as the #33 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Highwood, check out:

303 out of 336
In Illinois
5,035 out of 6,489
In America

Highwood Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Highwood. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Highwood is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Highwood is 106.

  • The Health index in Highwood is 109.

  • The Housing index in Highwood is 188.

  • The Transportation index in Highwood is 108.

  • The Utilities index in Highwood is 89.

Living Expense Highwood Illinois National Average
Overall 131 97 100
Services 105 95 100
Groceries 106 99 100
Health 109 93 100
Housing 188 95 100
Transportation 108 102 100
Utilities 89 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Highwood Cost of Living Vs. IL

Highwood, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Highwood is $467,537.

  • The Median Rent in Highwood is $1,800.

  • The Median Income in Highwood is $101,862.

  • The Home Value To Income in Highwood is 4.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Highwood is 0.21x.

Statistic Highwood Illinois United States
Median Home Value $467,537 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,800 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $101,862 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.6x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.18x 0.21x
$467,537
Median Home Value
$1,800
Median Rent
$101,862
Median Income

Highwood, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Highwood Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highwood Illinois
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $17.91 $12.13
Bowling $24.58 $18
Haircut $33.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.44 $45.56

Detailed Highwood Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highwood Illinois
Ground Beef $5.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.87 $4.67
Potatoes $4.9 $4.93
Pizza $13.41 $12.09
Beer $10.0 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Highwood Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highwood Illinois
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Highwood Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highwood Illinois
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Highwood Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highwood Illinois
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Highwood SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
9
Affordability
4
Diversity
9
Safety
9
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Highwood

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Highwood. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 124, 0.9x Highwood.

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.1x Highwood.

  • Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x Highwood.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Highwood
Arlington Heights, IL 76,220 124 0.9x
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.1x
Buffalo Grove, IL 42,824 125 1.0x
Park Ridge, IL 39,241 138 1.1x
Northbrook, IL 34,642 153 1.2x
Highland Park, IL 30,229 148 1.1x
Wilmette, IL 27,550 164 1.3x
Lake Zurich, IL 19,727 127 1.0x
Lake Forest, IL 19,190 181 1.4x
Deerfield, IL 19,185 148 1.1x

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