City Comparison
Palatine vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Palatine scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Palatine
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Palatine.
Housing costs are a major driver: Palatine's average rent is
21% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Palatine | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,450 | +21% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $400 | -56% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $2,690 | $2,570 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Palatine offers 21% higher 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 Palatine is estimated at
$62,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Palatine | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 69,643 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $89,500 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Palatine runs warmer on average — a 50.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Palatine comes out ahead with 252 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Palatine sees 27.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Palatine | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 82.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 16.70°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 34.30 in | in |
| Snowfall | 27.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 252 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 hours) per year compared to Palatine.
Palatine scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Palatine leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Palatine | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 31 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 54.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Palatine is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Palatine has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Palatine | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,908 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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