New Lenox receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Crystal Lake
New Lenox
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 30%
vs52 · Bottom 41%
Growth
73 · Top 13%
vs65 · Top 25%
Climate
60 · Bottom 15%
vs63 · Bottom 25%
Physical resilience
74 · Top 32%
vs83 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
70 · Top 27%
vs72 · Top 23%
Access
85 · Bottom 30%
vs86 · Bottom 31%
Economic stability
77 · Top 12%
vs85 · Top 2%
Measured values
| Metric | Crystal Lake | New Lenox | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,579 | 28,006 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $108,418 | $140,865 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,472 | $51,234 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,137/sq mi | 1,743/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $311,400 | $399,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,468 | $1,431 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 92.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.0% | 47.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 1.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 367 | 180 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.0 | 6.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 53.6% | 6.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.2" | 34.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 30 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 36.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 36.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 19 | 15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.82 | 16.56 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 31.3% | 43.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 36.6% | 38.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 31.8% | 13.8% | 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.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Crystal Lake
73
Your Score
70
Area Score
New Lenox
76
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Crystal Lake, IL · New Lenox, IL · How this is calculated: methodology