61115 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
61115
61111
Opportunity
28 · Bottom 7%
vs26 · Bottom 5%
Growth
46 · Bottom 42%
vs42 · Bottom 38%
Climate
59 · Bottom 12%
vs59 · Bottom 12%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 46%
vs62 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs91 · Top 30%
Schools
55 · Top 45%
vs41 · Bottom 37%
Access
69 · Bottom 11%
vs68 · Bottom 10%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 38%
vs58 · Bottom 48%
Measured values
| Metric | 61115 | 61111 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,364 | 23,286 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,363 | $61,393 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,535 | $36,240 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,100/sq mi | 1,637/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $172,600 | $158,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,104 | $1,119 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.5% | 60.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.3% | -2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 25.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 14.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 24 | 47 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 100.0% | -2.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 15°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.2" | 37.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 56 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 36.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.21 | 13.36 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 25.5% | 12.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 26.5% | 22.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 58.4% | 65.8% | 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
61115
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
61111
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Full profiles: 61115 — Machesney Park, IL · 61111 — Loves Park, IL · How this is calculated: methodology