Bolingbrook vs Downers Grove
Bolingbrook, Illinois versus Downers Grove, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Downers Grove edges out Bolingbrook on overall objective livability (50 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Bolingbrook | Downers Grove |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $102k | $115k |
| Cost of Living | $66k | $66k |
| Home Value | $276k | $425k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.67% | 1.67% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.15% | 14.06% |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 4.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.0 in | 42.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 29.2 in | 24.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 42.8 | 52.4 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 87.3 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1120/100k | 55/100k |
| Property Crime | 766/100k | 106/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 73,755 | 49,996 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 42.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.71 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+18 | D+18 |
| White (%) | 38.5% | 81.7% |
| Black (%) | 17.7% | 3.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 27.2% | 5.5% |
| Asian (%) | 13.0% | 5.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 30 min | 28 min |
| Walkability | 11.2/20 | 12.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 20 mi | 14 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 94.2% | 92.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 33.90 | 112.01 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bolingbrook or Downers Grove more affordable?
- Downers Grove has the lower cost of living: its index is $66k, compared with Bolingbrook's $66k and Downers Grove's $66k. Median rent is $2k in Bolingbrook versus $2k in Downers Grove.
- Is Bolingbrook or Downers Grove safer?
- Downers Grove has the lower violent crime rate. Bolingbrook reports 1120/100k and Downers Grove reports 55/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Bolingbrook or Downers Grove?
- The median home value is $276k in Bolingbrook and $425k in Downers Grove, so homes are more affordable in Bolingbrook.