salaryRent is higher than in 71% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 99% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.4 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 32.6 minutes each way. Most homes (92%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 86.7% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $81,480 a year. That is $39 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 276 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Winnetka?
Share of households by yearly income. 74.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Winnetka
| Size | Winnetka | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,659 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,093 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Winnetka 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 Winnetka, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Winnetka
Life in Winnetka
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Winnetka?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $7,245 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,337,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $133,780 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Winnetka, IL?
Renting in Winnetka costs a median of about $2,037 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Winnetka?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $81,480 a year, or $39 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Winnetka cheap or expensive?
Winnetka is rated Cheap: rent takes 9.8% of the typical household income of $250,000+. It ranks 276th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Winnetka?
The median homeowner in Winnetka pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of the median home value.
Is Winnetka 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 Winnetka?
The median home value in Winnetka is $1,337,800, about 5.4 times the typical yearly household income.
12,484 people live in Winnetka. Numbers are typical (middle) values.