B

Glen Ellyn, IL

Source:

Affordability Score: 72/100

Population: 37,805 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Glen Ellyn, IL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 37,805 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B (72/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $137,658, median home value of $514,300, median rent of $1,427 per month, and 64.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,781 per month (studio $1,480, 1BR $1,581, 3BR $2,294, 4BR $2,653). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $19,465 per year, consuming 14% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Glen Ellyn, IL include income, education, rent. Unemployment currently reads 4.9% and poverty 5.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A+
$137,658
Median household income
Education A+
64.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.7x
Home value $514,300 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,781/mo
2BR fair market rent (16% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$19,465/yr
Center-based infant care (14% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$137,658
▲ 122% vs national
Per Capita Income
$68,850
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Poverty Rate
5.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$514,300
▲ 87% vs national
Median Rent
$1,427/mo
Owner Occupied
81.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,781/mo
▲ 48% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,480
1BR
$1,581
2BR
$1,781
3BR
$2,294
4BR
$2,653

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
64.5%
▲ 35 ppt vs national
High School+
76.1%
Median Age
40.2
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$19,465/yr
14% of income
Toddler (Center)
$14,560/yr
Preschool (Center)
$16,423/yr
School-Age (Center)
$3,900/yr

What This Means

Glen Ellyn, IL receives an overall affordability grade of B (72/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 37,805. This area performs well in income and education and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Glen Ellyn ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Glen Ellyn, IL affordable?
Glen Ellyn, IL receives an overall affordability grade of B (72/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $137,658. Median home value is $514,300.
What is the cost of living in Glen Ellyn?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,427/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,781/mo. Infant childcare $19,465/yr. Median home value $514,300.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →