Downers Grove receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Downers Grove
Bolingbrook
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 39%
vs41 · Bottom 19%
Growth
48 · Bottom 45%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
63 · Bottom 25%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 22%
vs83 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs97 · Top 15%
Schools
75 · Top 20%
vs56 · Top 44%
Access
94 · Top 40%
vs90 · Bottom 43%
Economic stability
74 · Top 20%
vs74 · Top 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Downers Grove | Bolingbrook | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 50,054 | 74,096 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,114 | $108,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,928 | $42,112 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,416/sq mi | 2,967/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $449,800 | $314,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,656 | $1,749 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.2% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2% | 39.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 9.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 68 | 108 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 7.9% | -20.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.4" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 32.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.41 | 12.66 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 35.8% | 22.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.0% | 26.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 16.2% | 55.0% | 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
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Downers Grove
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
Bolingbrook
68
Your Score
64
Area Score
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Full profiles: Downers Grove, IL · Bolingbrook, IL · How this is calculated: methodology