60031 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
60031
60542
Opportunity
63 · Top 32%
vs52 · Bottom 45%
Growth
50 · Bottom 49%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs59 · Bottom 13%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 23%
vs77 · Top 27%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 10%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
33 · Bottom 27%
vs46 · Bottom 42%
Access
87 · Bottom 32%
vs87 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
84 · Top 6%
vs83 · Top 7%
Measured values
| Metric | 60031 | 60542 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,107 | 18,932 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $111,034 | $114,831 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $55,667 | $50,320 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,951/sq mi | 1,999/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $335,100 | $342,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,657 | $1,504 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.9% | 72.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.2% | 40.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 6.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 45 | 52 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 50.0% | -7.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 15°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.3" | 33.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 27 mi | 25 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 29.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.4 | 41.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.62 | 13.82 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 10.9% | 18.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 17.0% | 22.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 44.4% | 42.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 60031 — Gurnee, IL · 60542 — North Aurora, IL · How this is calculated: methodology