Downers Grove and Elmhurst 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
Downers Grove
Elmhurst
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 39%
vs49 · Bottom 35%
Growth
48 · Bottom 45%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
63 · Bottom 25%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 22%
vs81 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs93 · Top 25%
Schools
75 · Top 20%
vs82 · Top 12%
Access
94 · Top 40%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
74 · Top 20%
vs76 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Downers Grove | Elmhurst | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 50,054 | 45,671 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,114 | $149,644 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,928 | $77,937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,416/sq mi | 4,470/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $449,800 | $545,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,656 | $1,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.2% | 79.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.0% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2% | 64.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 3.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 68 | 73 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 7.9% | -3.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.4" | 37.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 31.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 42.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.41 | 13.19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 35.8% | 42.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.0% | 41.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 16.2% | 16.5% | 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.
Downers Grove
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
Elmhurst
73
Your Score
69
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Downers Grove, IL · Elmhurst, IL · How this is calculated: methodology