60090 and 60074 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
60090
60074
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 34%
vs46 · Bottom 30%
Growth
23 · Bottom 10%
vs18 · Bottom 6%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs62 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 36%
vs70 · Top 35%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs84 · Top 44%
Schools
41 · Bottom 36%
vs40 · Bottom 36%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs97 · Top 32%
Economic stability
70 · Top 30%
vs75 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | 60090 | 60074 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,298 | 36,460 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,355 | $84,089 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,478 | $41,614 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,263/sq mi | 5,133/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $264,800 | $315,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,663 | $1,486 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.5% | 61.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -3.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.9% | 44.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 9.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 20 | 4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.5 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -35.5% | -33.3% | 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 | 10 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 28.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.13 | 13.63 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 17.2% | 18.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 15.1% | 15.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 67.8% | 54.6% | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
60090
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
60074
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: 60090 — Wheeling, IL · 60074 — Palatine, IL · How this is calculated: methodology