salaryRent is higher than in 88% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 95% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.3 years of household income. Most homes (83.8%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 76.9% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $104,800 a year. That is $50 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Illinois. It is number 312 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Highland Park?
Share of households by yearly income. 60.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Highland Park
| Size | Highland Park | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,721 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,408 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,056 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,019 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,153 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Highland Park overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Highland Park, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Highland Park
Life in Highland Park
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Highland Park?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,594 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $607,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $60,730 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Highland Park, IL?
Renting in Highland Park costs a median of about $2,620 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Highland Park?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $104,800 a year, or $50 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Highland Park cheap or expensive?
Highland Park is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.3% of the typical household income of $181,289. It ranks 312th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Highland Park?
The median homeowner in Highland Park pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.65% of the median home value.
Is Highland Park more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Highland Park?
The median home value in Highland Park is $607,300, about 3.3 times the typical yearly household income.
30,398 people live in Highland Park. Numbers are typical (middle) values.