| Index | Westchester | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 112 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 139 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 104 | 100 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Westchester? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Westchester stands at 112, making it 12% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Westchester 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 39.1% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Wondering if Westchester is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Westchester, for example, the median home price is 33.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 51.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Westchester boasting a median household income of $134,807, which is 65.7% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Westchester, the utilities index stands at 0.2% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Westchester, the groceries index is 0.8% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Westchester shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $136,643 | $11,387 | $3,188 | $4,100 |
| Renters | $87,386 | $7,282 | $2,039 | $2,622 |
| 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% |
| Dixmoor, IL | 3,663 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Hometown, IL | 4,350 | 89 | 11.2% |
| Robbins, IL | 5,241 | 89 | 10.5% |
| Riverdale, IL | 12,878 | 89 | 10.8% |
| Westchester, IL | 16,632 | 112 | 12.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Live Oak, TX | 16,631 | 100 | 0.4% |
| Boulder City, NV | 16,634 | 119 | 18.9% |
| Aurora, OH | 16,638 | 114 | 14.4% |
| Red Hill, SC | 16,638 | 98 | 1.7% |
| Stuart, FL | 16,622 | 109 | 8.7% |
| Westchester, IL | 16,632 | 112 | 12.1% |
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