60061 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
60061
60089
Opportunity
65 · Top 29%
vs60 · Top 38%
Growth
21 · Bottom 8%
vs12 · Bottom 3%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs62 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 23%
vs78 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 20%
vs96 · Top 19%
Schools
83 · Top 9%
vs88 · Top 5%
Access
93 · Top 48%
vs96 · Top 35%
Economic stability
79 · Top 13%
vs78 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | 60061 | 60089 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,974 | 42,872 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $124,468 | $129,401 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $66,405 | $62,561 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,347/sq mi | 4,356/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $416,700 | $412,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,908 | $2,037 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.2% | 79.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.6% | 68.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 7.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4 | 0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.0% | -100.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.3" | 32.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.9 | 42.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 15 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.06 | 14.31 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 40.6% | 52.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 39.5% | 47.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 32.5% | 52.1% | 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: 60061 — Vernon Hills, IL · 60089 — Buffalo Grove, IL · How this is calculated: methodology