City Comparison
Champaign vs Palatine
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Palatine scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Champaign
Palatine
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Champaign is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
20% lower than in Palatine.
Housing costs are a major driver: Champaign's average rent is
29% lower than Palatine's.
| Metric | Champaign | Palatine | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,250 | $1,750 | -29% |
| Groceries | $380 | $420 | -10% |
| Utilities | $170 | $175 | -3% |
| Transport | $110 | $115 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,140 | $2,690 | -20% |
| Cost Index | 93 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Palatine offers 18% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Palatine delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Champaign is estimated at
$52,000 vs $62,000 in Palatine.
| Metric | Champaign | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $64,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,817 idx | 69,643 idx |
| Household Income | $61,200 | $89,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.8°F of each other.
For sunshine, Champaign comes out ahead with 13 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Palatine sees 9.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Champaign | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 54.10°F | 50.30°F |
| Summer High | 83.80°F | 82.00°F |
| Winter Low | 19.90°F | 16.70°F |
| Rainfall | 28.60 in | 34.30 in |
| Snowfall | 18.80 in | 27.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 265 | 252 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Champaign has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 hours) per year compared to Palatine.
For walkability, Palatine leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Champaign | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 31 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 54.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 36.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Champaign is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Palatine.
From a growth perspective, Champaign is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Champaign | Palatine |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,302 | 67,908 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 27.5 | 39.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Champaign
Advantages
Median home prices remain below the national average per 2024 Zillow data, offering accessible homeownership.
World-class healthcare infrastructure anchored by Carle Foundation Hospital and OSF HealthCare.
An award-winning mass transit system (MTD) providing reliable public transportation across the metro area.
A thriving tech and startup ecosystem fueled by University of Illinois research and talent.
Rich cultural diversity and vibrant arts, dining, and entertainment scenes unusual for a mid-sized city.
Drawbacks
Winter weather brings cold temperatures and significant snowfall, averaging nearly 19 inches annually.
Property taxes in Champaign County are relatively high compared to the national average.
Rental markets near the university experience high turnover and seasonal price spikes.
Car dependency is notable outside of the immediate downtown and campus cores.
Local job market can be heavily tied to institutional cycles and state budget fluctuations.
Palatine
Advantages
Consistently low crime rates making it one of the safer suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area per police department reports.
Direct Metra commuter rail access providing efficient transit to downtown Chicago per Metra schedules.
Exceptional public school districts serving families with highly rated elementary, middle, and high schools per state education reports.
Extensive park district managing over 50 parks, golf courses, and the expansive Deer Grove forest preserve.
Vibrant downtown district featuring diverse dining, shopping, and community events per local chamber of commerce data.
Drawbacks
Higher-than-average property taxes characteristic of suburban Cook County per county assessor data.
Cost of living and housing expenses exceed the national average per Zillow and US Census Bureau figures.
Car dependency remains relatively high for daily errands outside of the immediate downtown transit core.
Winter weather brings heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures requiring active municipal snow removal.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along major regional arteries like Route 53 and US-12.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Champaign
#324Illinois, USA
60.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$64,000
Cost Index
93
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
265/yr
Avg Temp
54.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
76
Business
72
Palatine
#277Illinois, USA
61.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
54.0/100
Sunny Days
252/yr
Avg Temp
50.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
84
Business
75
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