Northbrook receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Chicago
Northbrook
Opportunity: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
35 · Bottom 11%
vs48 · Bottom 33%
Growth: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
26 · Bottom 13%
vs35 · Bottom 24%
Climate: Chicago is the more favorable of the two.
Climate
63 · Bottom 25%
vs62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
69 · Top 37%
vs69 · Top 36%
Housing affordability: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 42%
vs86 · Top 42%
Schools: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
48 · Bottom 45%
vs98 · Top 1%
Access: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Access
94 · Top 43%
vs96 · Top 31%
Economic stability: Northbrook is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
52 · Bottom 34%
vs62 · Top 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Chicago | Northbrook | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,711,226 | 34,585 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,902 | $157,782 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,086 | $87,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 11,904/sq mi | 2,611/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $334,100 | $652,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,440 | $2,463 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 46.0% | 87.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -3.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 72.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 4.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,531 | 43 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -52.1% | -64.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.4" | 32.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.9 min | 29.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.8 | 49.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 657 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.61 | 11.17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 20.0% | 70.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 23.1% | 64.7% | 2019-20 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
Chicago
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Northbrook
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chicago
58
Your Score
54
Area Score
Northbrook
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chicago, IL · Northbrook, IL · How this is calculated: methodology