60515 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
60542
60515
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 45%
vs53 · Bottom 46%
Growth
43 · Bottom 39%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Climate
59 · Bottom 13%
vs60 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 27%
vs81 · Top 22%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs92 · Top 29%
Access
87 · Bottom 32%
vs95 · Top 39%
Economic stability
83 · Top 7%
vs80 · Top 12%
Measured values
| Metric | 60542 | 60515 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,932 | 29,762 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $114,831 | $123,197 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,320 | $73,497 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,999/sq mi | 2,519/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $342,400 | $461,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,504 | $1,661 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.8% | 75.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.7% | 62.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 5.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 52 | 68 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.8 | 1.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.1% | 7.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.8" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.7 | 44.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.82 | 14.80 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 42.1% | 10.5% | 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: 60542 — North Aurora, IL · 60515 — Downers Grove, IL · How this is calculated: methodology