Machesney Park 74 Excellent
Machesney Park Livability #242 ranked city in Illinois#4,569 ranked city in the USARanks better than 84% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Machesney Park

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Schools Schools

    Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Machesney Park?

Located in the state of Illinois, Machesney Park is a mid-sized city with a population of 23,320 inhabitants. The majority of Machesney Park residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Machesney Park, Illinois could be a fulfilling experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, commute, education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Machesney Park and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Machesney Park to Illinois and the national average.

The livability score in Machesney Park is 75 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 86th percentile of all cities across America. Compared to the national average, Machesney Park ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Machesney Park has higher than average rankings for the following: crime (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Machesney Park, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: education (F).

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Machesney Park apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Machesney Park is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Machesney Park come in at $224,611, which is 27.2% lower than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Machesney Park, the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 34.3% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Machesney Park

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Compare Machesney Park, IL Livability

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      Machesney Park transportation information

      Statistic Machesney Park Illinois National
      Average one way commute22min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work87.7%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.0%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.4%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home4.5%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Machesney Park, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.