If you guessed that the Chicago area is home to Illinois’ most expensive places, you guessed right. The northeast corner of Illinois has a long history of exorbitant home prices, high property taxes, and people who can afford these premium price tags.
Before you head down to our list of Illinois’ top ten most expensive places, it’s important to note how we calculated our list. We used Saturday Night Science to compare the cost of living of the 328 Illinois places with at least 5,000 residents. Using American Community Survey data, we looked at home prices, rent, and income for each place.
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 costly 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 2025
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 2025
1. South Barrington
/10
Population: 5,004
Cost Of Living Index: 208
Median Income: $211,083
Average Home Price: $986,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on South Barrington:
The overall cost of living in South Barrington is 208. The median income in South Barrington comes in at $211,083 and the average home value is $986,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 12,508
Cost Of Living Index: 204
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,206,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.8x
More on Winnetka: Data
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 $1,206,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 17,155
Cost Of Living Index: 190
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $999,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Hinsdale: Data
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 $999,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 8,715
Cost Of Living Index: 190
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,354,900
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Glencoe: Data
The overall cost of living in Glencoe is 190. The median income in Glencoe comes in at $250,001 and the average home value is $1,354,900 for 2025.
/10
Population: 19,190
Cost Of Living Index: 189
Median Income: $228,120
Average Home Price: $909,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Lake Forest: Data
The overall cost of living in Lake Forest is 189. The median income in Lake Forest comes in at $228,120 and the average home value is $909,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 8,028
Cost Of Living Index: 188
Median Income: $171,123
Average Home Price: $867,900
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.1x
More on Oak Brook: Data
The overall cost of living in Oak Brook is 188. The median income in Oak Brook comes in at $171,123 and the average home value is $867,900 for 2025.
/10
Population: 7,541
Cost Of Living Index: 170
Median Income: $215,810
Average Home Price: $704,100
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Inverness: Data
The overall cost of living in Inverness is 170. The median income in Inverness comes in at $215,810 and the average home value is $704,100 for 2025.
/10
Population: 9,145
Cost Of Living Index: 168
Median Income: $238,114
Average Home Price: $592,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.5x
More on Hawthorn Woods: Data
The overall cost of living in Hawthorn Woods is 168. The median income in Hawthorn Woods comes in at $238,114 and the average home value is $592,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 8,266
Cost Of Living Index: 167
Median Income: $235,368
Average Home Price: $746,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Long Grove: Data
The overall cost of living in Long Grove is 167. The median income in Long Grove comes in at $235,368 and the average home value is $746,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 11,119
Cost Of Living Index: 165
Median Income: $154,508
Average Home Price: $694,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Burr Ridge: Data
The overall cost of living in Burr Ridge is 165. The median income in Burr Ridge comes in at $154,508 and the average home value is $694,800 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Prairie State For 2025
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Illinois are:
- How much money do I make?
- 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 2019-2023 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 2025. 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 2025
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:
- Centralia
- Mattoon
- Pana
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Illinois
- Safest Places In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
Most Expensive Cities In Illinois
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Barrington | 208 | 5,004 | $211,083 | $986,300 | 4.7x |
| 2 | Winnetka | 204 | 12,508 | $250,001 | $1,206,300 | 4.8x |
| 3 | Hinsdale | 190 | 17,155 | $250,001 | $999,100 | 4.0x |
| 4 | Glencoe | 190 | 8,715 | $250,001 | $1,354,900 | 5.4x |
| 5 | Lake Forest | 189 | 19,190 | $228,120 | $909,800 | 4.0x |
| 6 | Oak Brook | 188 | 8,028 | $171,123 | $867,900 | 5.1x |
| 7 | Inverness | 170 | 7,541 | $215,810 | $704,100 | 3.3x |
| 8 | Hawthorn Woods | 168 | 9,145 | $238,114 | $592,800 | 2.5x |
| 9 | Long Grove | 167 | 8,266 | $235,368 | $746,700 | 3.2x |
| 10 | Burr Ridge | 165 | 11,119 | $154,508 | $694,800 | 4.5x |
| 11 | Wilmette | 162 | 27,550 | $192,300 | $802,200 | 4.2x |
| 12 | Lake Bluff | 160 | 5,834 | $205,735 | $739,400 | 3.6x |
| 13 | Northfield | 160 | 5,683 | $180,492 | $807,700 | 4.5x |
| 14 | River Forest | 154 | 11,489 | $148,711 | $676,900 | 4.6x |
| 15 | Western Springs | 153 | 13,353 | $218,839 | $691,300 | 3.2x |
| 16 | Northbrook | 152 | 34,642 | $155,321 | $644,100 | 4.1x |
| 17 | Highland Park | 152 | 30,229 | $161,875 | $594,400 | 3.7x |
| 18 | Lincolnshire | 152 | 7,937 | $179,735 | $625,800 | 3.5x |
| 19 | Deerfield | 150 | 19,185 | $189,705 | $608,600 | 3.2x |
| 20 | Barrington | 145 | 11,049 | $150,714 | $580,900 | 3.9x |
| 21 | Glenview | 144 | 47,682 | $138,758 | $598,800 | 4.3x |
| 22 | La Grange | 138 | 15,999 | $154,556 | $582,600 | 3.8x |
| 23 | Lincolnwood | 138 | 13,179 | $107,950 | $475,400 | 4.4x |
| 24 | Clarendon Hills | 138 | 8,642 | $125,826 | $595,500 | 4.7x |
| 25 | Campton Hills | 135 | 10,724 | $192,727 | $510,100 | 2.6x |
| 26 | Libertyville | 133 | 20,493 | $162,270 | $499,300 | 3.1x |
| 27 | Park Ridge | 132 | 39,241 | $138,059 | $539,300 | 3.9x |
| 28 | Naperville | 131 | 149,424 | $150,937 | $509,900 | 3.4x |
| 29 | Elmhurst | 131 | 45,538 | $145,374 | $532,800 | 3.7x |
| 30 | Glen Ellyn | 131 | 28,270 | $133,346 | $522,600 | 3.9x |
| 31 | Riverside | 131 | 9,079 | $149,219 | $460,500 | 3.1x |
| 32 | Evanston | 130 | 76,552 | $95,766 | $472,300 | 4.9x |
| 33 | Lake Barrington | 130 | 5,400 | $132,857 | $451,400 | 3.4x |
| 34 | Wheaton | 128 | 53,453 | $119,566 | $447,700 | 3.7x |
| 35 | Downers Grove | 127 | 49,867 | $119,649 | $439,000 | 3.7x |
| 36 | Vernon Hills | 126 | 26,772 | $120,625 | $384,800 | 3.2x |
| 37 | Willow Springs | 126 | 5,871 | $103,429 | $370,900 | 3.6x |
| 38 | Oak Park | 125 | 53,315 | $108,026 | $456,300 | 4.2x |
| 39 | Buffalo Grove | 125 | 42,824 | $129,820 | $392,900 | 3.0x |
| 40 | Homer Glen | 125 | 24,516 | $128,546 | $400,000 | 3.1x |
| 41 | Frankfort | 124 | 20,417 | $153,714 | $461,600 | 3.0x |
| 42 | Lemont | 124 | 17,643 | $126,100 | $447,800 | 3.6x |
| 43 | Winfield | 124 | 9,982 | $143,102 | $363,400 | 2.5x |
| 44 | Highwood | 124 | 5,243 | $101,862 | $454,500 | 4.5x |
| 45 | Morton Grove | 123 | 24,687 | $106,078 | $377,000 | 3.6x |
| 46 | Lisle | 123 | 23,413 | $106,173 | $407,000 | 3.8x |
| 47 | Lake Zurich | 123 | 19,727 | $139,959 | $418,300 | 3.0x |
| 48 | Arlington Heights | 122 | 76,220 | $118,532 | $403,200 | 3.4x |
| 49 | Plainfield | 122 | 45,705 | $142,265 | $398,000 | 2.8x |
| 50 | La Grange Park | 122 | 13,227 | $119,115 | $427,800 | 3.6x |
| 51 | Geneva | 121 | 21,299 | $136,621 | $415,800 | 3.0x |
| 52 | Palos Heights | 121 | 11,817 | $107,974 | $350,000 | 3.2x |
| 53 | Flossmoor | 121 | 9,666 | $137,768 | $309,100 | 2.2x |
| 54 | Skokie | 120 | 66,427 | $93,550 | $368,600 | 3.9x |
| 55 | Westmont | 120 | 24,201 | $83,622 | $369,100 | 4.4x |
| 56 | Darien | 119 | 21,855 | $109,354 | $386,400 | 3.5x |
| 57 | Itasca | 119 | 9,525 | $111,898 | $375,600 | 3.4x |
| 58 | Oswego | 118 | 35,463 | $119,881 | $319,000 | 2.7x |
| 59 | St. Charles | 118 | 32,733 | $115,350 | $369,700 | 3.2x |
| 60 | Mount Prospect | 117 | 55,648 | $103,911 | $377,000 | 3.6x |
| 61 | Hoffman Estates | 117 | 51,186 | $109,683 | $340,400 | 3.1x |
| 62 | Bartlett | 117 | 40,531 | $130,479 | $350,500 | 2.7x |
| 63 | Elk Grove Village | 117 | 32,132 | $95,216 | $334,400 | 3.5x |
| 64 | Bloomingdale | 117 | 22,388 | $98,891 | $363,100 | 3.7x |
| 65 | Mokena | 117 | 19,906 | $129,017 | $377,100 | 2.9x |
| 66 | Prospect Heights | 117 | 15,681 | $91,599 | $347,500 | 3.8x |
| 67 | Sugar Grove | 117 | 9,233 | $116,250 | $372,000 | 3.2x |
| 68 | West Dundee | 117 | 7,867 | $104,750 | $342,900 | 3.3x |
| 69 | Gurnee | 116 | 30,486 | $121,410 | $331,100 | 2.7x |
| 70 | Batavia | 116 | 26,730 | $119,167 | $358,000 | 3.0x |
| 71 | Roselle | 116 | 22,731 | $109,118 | $318,000 | 2.9x |
| 72 | Palatine | 115 | 66,548 | $95,950 | $347,900 | 3.6x |
| 73 | Orland Park | 115 | 57,961 | $98,979 | $349,400 | 3.5x |
| 74 | Lombard | 115 | 43,722 | $97,253 | $321,200 | 3.3x |
| 75 | Niles | 115 | 30,262 | $78,563 | $350,900 | 4.5x |
| 76 | Westchester | 115 | 16,524 | $103,561 | $297,400 | 2.9x |
| 77 | Norridge | 115 | 15,177 | $87,579 | $361,000 | 4.1x |
| 78 | Schaumburg | 114 | 76,780 | $94,690 | $312,200 | 3.3x |
| 79 | Mundelein | 114 | 31,632 | $107,608 | $285,600 | 2.7x |
| 80 | West Chicago | 114 | 25,434 | $100,568 | $306,500 | 3.0x |
| 81 | Yorkville | 114 | 22,350 | $108,775 | $314,200 | 2.9x |
| 82 | Willowbrook | 114 | 9,138 | $97,861 | $367,000 | 3.8x |
| 83 | Gilberts | 114 | 8,389 | $119,719 | $330,100 | 2.8x |
| 84 | Chicago | 113 | 2,707,648 | $75,134 | $315,200 | 4.2x |
| 85 | Woodridge | 113 | 33,889 | $97,263 | $345,200 | 3.5x |
| 86 | Rolling Meadows | 113 | 23,981 | $100,424 | $299,700 | 3.0x |
| 87 | Warrenville | 113 | 14,232 | $99,028 | $266,500 | 2.7x |
| 88 | Bolingbrook | 112 | 73,813 | $107,552 | $295,500 | 2.7x |
| 89 | North Aurora | 112 | 18,375 | $111,781 | $323,900 | 2.9x |
| 90 | Wood Dale | 112 | 13,926 | $90,408 | $303,400 | 3.4x |
| 91 | Des Plaines | 111 | 59,408 | $94,303 | $318,200 | 3.4x |
| 92 | Grayslake | 111 | 20,707 | $113,697 | $293,900 | 2.6x |
| 93 | Lindenhurst | 111 | 14,365 | $127,837 | $275,400 | 2.2x |
| 94 | Wauconda | 111 | 14,010 | $112,438 | $268,300 | 2.4x |
| 95 | Harwood Heights | 111 | 8,851 | $79,651 | $316,400 | 4.0x |
| 96 | Volo | 111 | 6,398 | $145,906 | $293,800 | 2.0x |
| 97 | Elburn | 111 | 6,054 | $106,506 | $358,200 | 3.4x |
| 98 | Carol Stream | 110 | 39,427 | $105,395 | $308,700 | 2.9x |
| 99 | Lockport | 110 | 26,228 | $113,252 | $298,800 | 2.6x |
| 100 | South Elgin | 110 | 23,984 | $123,744 | $296,100 | 2.4x |