| Index | Brookfield | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 112 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 137 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Brookfield can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Brookfield cost of living index is 112, which is 12% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Brookfield cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 36.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Brookfield affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Brookfield, for instance, where the median home price falls 48.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 9.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Brookfield flaunting a median household income of $126,196, 55.2% higher than the national norm.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Brookfield starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 4.95%.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Brookfield, the transportation index is 3.3% higher than the national average.
The Brookfield cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $147,057 | $12,255 | $3,431 | $4,412 |
| Renters | $61,250 | $5,104 | $1,429 | $1,838 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hodgkins, IL | 1,817 | 83 | 16.9% |
| Phoenix, IL | 1,450 | 85 | 14.6% |
| Dixmoor, IL | 3,663 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Hometown, IL | 4,350 | 89 | 11.2% |
| Robbins, IL | 5,241 | 89 | 10.5% |
| Brookfield, IL | 19,113 | 112 | 11.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Corner Brook, NL | 19,117 | n/a | |
| Fairmont, WV | 19,106 | 87 | 13.4% |
| Country Walk, FL | 19,103 | 134 | 34.1% |
| Quispamsis, NB | 19,102 | n/a | |
| Weirton, WV | 19,099 | 86 | 14.0% |
| Brookfield, IL | 19,113 | 112 | 11.6% |
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