Sycamore receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Sycamore
Bolingbrook
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 36%
vs41 · Bottom 19%
Growth
52 · Top 47%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
58 · Bottom 10%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 24%
vs83 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 12%
vs97 · Top 15%
Schools
56 · Top 44%
vs56 · Top 44%
Access
78 · Bottom 20%
vs90 · Bottom 43%
Economic stability
74 · Top 20%
vs74 · Top 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Sycamore | Bolingbrook | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,559 | 74,096 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,120 | $108,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,190 | $42,112 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,834/sq mi | 2,967/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $265,700 | $314,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,140 | $1,749 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 79.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.0% | 39.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 9.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 70 | 108 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -2.8% | -20.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.4" | 33.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 40 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 32.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.1 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.20 | 12.66 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 25.8% | 22.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 27.3% | 26.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 27.1% | 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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Sycamore
68
Your Score
66
Area Score
Bolingbrook
68
Your Score
64
Area Score
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Full profiles: Sycamore, IL · Bolingbrook, IL · How this is calculated: methodology