salaryRent is higher than in 79% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 98% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income. Most homes (92.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 81.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $91,240 a year. That is $44 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 300 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Lake Bluff?
Share of households by yearly income. 72.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Lake Bluff
| Size | Lake Bluff | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,896 | $1,324 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,384 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Lake Bluff 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 Lake Bluff, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Lake Bluff
Life in Lake Bluff
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Bluff?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,108 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $776,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $77,670 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lake Bluff, IL?
Renting in Lake Bluff costs a median of about $2,281 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Lake Bluff?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $91,240 a year, or $44 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Lake Bluff cheap or expensive?
Lake Bluff is rated Cheap: rent takes 12.4% of the typical household income of $220,014. It ranks 300th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Lake Bluff?
The median homeowner in Lake Bluff pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.29% of the median home value.
Is Lake Bluff 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 Lake Bluff?
The median home value in Lake Bluff is $776,700, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.
6,041 people live in Lake Bluff. Numbers are typical (middle) values.