60061 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
60089
60061
Opportunity
60 · Top 38%
vs65 · Top 29%
Growth
12 · Bottom 3%
vs21 · Bottom 8%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs62 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
78 · Top 26%
vs80 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 19%
vs95 · Top 20%
Schools
88 · Top 5%
vs83 · Top 9%
Access
96 · Top 35%
vs93 · Top 48%
Economic stability
78 · Top 15%
vs79 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | 60089 | 60061 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 42,872 | 27,974 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $129,401 | $124,468 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $62,561 | $66,405 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,356/sq mi | 3,347/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $412,200 | $416,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,037 | $1,908 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.8% | 68.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.6% | 67.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 5.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -100.0% | -50.0% | 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 | 13 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 29.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.0 | 41.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.31 | 11.06 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 52.2% | 40.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.1% | 39.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 52.1% | 32.5% | 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: 60089 — Buffalo Grove, IL · 60061 — Vernon Hills, IL · How this is calculated: methodology