Mundelein receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Evanston
Mundelein
Opportunity: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
41 · Bottom 19%
vs63 · Top 35%
Growth: Evanston is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
62 · Top 30%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
62 · Bottom 20%
vs62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs80 · Top 23%
Housing affordability: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
69 · Bottom 31%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools: Evanston is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
76 · Top 19%
vs57 · Top 43%
Access: Evanston is the more favorable of the two.
Access
96 · Top 33%
vs91 · Bottom 47%
Economic stability: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 39%
vs73 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Evanston | Mundelein | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,340 | 31,915 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $96,434 | $108,340 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $66,712 | $49,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 9,814/sq mi | 2,918/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $481,200 | $309,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,762 | $1,566 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.2% | 71.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.5% | 46.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 8.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 386 | 72 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.1 | 2.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2473.3% | -33.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.3" | 32.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 18 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.00 | 13.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 36.9% | 22.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 34.1% | 30.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 36.7% | 43.4% | 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
Evanston
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Mundelein
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Evanston, IL · Mundelein, IL · How this is calculated: methodology