Kappa vs Normal
Kappa, Illinois versus Normal, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Kappa edges out Normal on overall objective livability (49 vs 40 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Kappa | Normal |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $64k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $49k |
| Home Value | $161k | $194k |
| Monthly Rent | $914 | $924 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $72 | $11k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.28% | 2.41% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.04% | 15.24% |
| Unemployment | 0.0% | 3.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4 in | 38.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.1 in | 6.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 236 days | 236 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 81 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 74.9 | 62.2 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 52.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1059/100k | 1716/100k |
| Property Crime | 744/100k | 1362/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 198 | 52,920 |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 25.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.07 | 0.36 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.94 | 0.90 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 94.4% | 75.3% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 12.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.0% | 6.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.5% | 3.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 2.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 17 min |
| Walkability | 6.7/20 | 11.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 101 mi | 108 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 81.8% | 82.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1010.10 | 51.97 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
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 Kappa or Normal more affordable?
- Normal has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Kappa's $49k and Normal's $49k. Median rent is $914 in Kappa versus $924 in Normal.
- Is Kappa or Normal safer?
- Kappa has the lower violent crime rate. Kappa reports 1059/100k and Normal reports 1716/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Kappa or Normal?
- The median home value is $161k in Kappa and $194k in Normal, so homes are more affordable in Kappa.