Arlington Heights and Gurnee 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
Arlington Heights
Gurnee
Opportunity: Gurnee is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 36%
vs62 · Top 37%
Growth: Gurnee is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
31 · Bottom 18%
vs52 · Top 47%
Climate: Arlington Heights is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
62 · Bottom 20%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience: Gurnee is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
69 · Top 37%
vs80 · Top 23%
Housing affordability: Gurnee is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
94 · Top 24%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools: Arlington Heights is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
86 · Top 6%
vs28 · Bottom 20%
Access: Arlington Heights is the more favorable of the two.
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs87 · Bottom 34%
Economic stability: Gurnee is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
72 · Top 24%
vs79 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Arlington Heights | Gurnee | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,005 | 30,510 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $116,723 | $119,628 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $62,826 | $58,525 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,575/sq mi | 2,258/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $414,500 | $344,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,760 | $1,655 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 76.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.4% | 56.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 5.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 72 | 45 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -77.6% | 50.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.3" | 35.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 27 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 29.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 20 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.67 | 13.62 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.5% | 10.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.9% | 17.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 20.5% | 44.4% | 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
Arlington Heights
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Gurnee
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Arlington Heights
70
Your Score
66
Area Score
Gurnee
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Arlington Heights, IL · Gurnee, IL · How this is calculated: methodology