salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 93% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.8 years of household income. Most homes (87.2%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 72.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 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 329 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Northbrook?
Share of households by yearly income. 59.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Northbrook
| Size | Northbrook | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,548 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,924 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,649 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,462 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Northbrook 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 Northbrook, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Northbrook
Life in Northbrook
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Northbrook?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,025 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $652,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $65,230 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Northbrook, IL?
Renting in Northbrook costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Northbrook?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Northbrook cheap or expensive?
Northbrook is rated OK: rent takes 24.7% of the typical household income of $170,168. It ranks 329th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Northbrook?
The median homeowner in Northbrook pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.53% of the median home value.
Is Northbrook 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 Northbrook?
The median home value in Northbrook is $652,300, about 3.8 times the typical yearly household income.
34,585 people live in Northbrook. Numbers are typical (middle) values.