Des Plaines vs Evanston
Des Plaines, Illinois versus Evanston, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Des Plaines and Evanston score about the same overall (42 vs 42 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Des Plaines | Evanston |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $87k | $93k |
| Cost of Living | $55k | $55k |
| Home Value | $304k | $455k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.01% | 1.96% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.00% | 17.48% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | 6.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.9 in | 40.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.4 in | 33.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 245 days | 245 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 91 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 76.4 | 62.9 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1231/100k | 1191/100k |
| Property Crime | 1237/100k | 2440/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 60,087 | 77,181 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 37.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.53 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.96 | 0.94 |
| Political Leaning | D+51 | D+51 |
| White (%) | 59.3% | 58.4% |
| Black (%) | 3.5% | 16.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 20.7% | 11.3% |
| Asian (%) | 13.1% | 9.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.3% | 5.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 30 min | 29 min |
| Walkability | 14.8/20 | 16.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 4 mi | 12 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.5% | 92.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 92.70 | 117.39 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
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 Des Plaines or Evanston more affordable?
- Evanston has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Des Plaines's $55k and Evanston's $55k. Median rent is $1k in Des Plaines versus $2k in Evanston.
- Is Des Plaines or Evanston safer?
- Evanston has the lower violent crime rate. Des Plaines reports 1231/100k and Evanston reports 1191/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Des Plaines or Evanston?
- The median home value is $304k in Des Plaines and $455k in Evanston, so homes are more affordable in Des Plaines.