Places › Illinois › Algonquin

Living in Algonquin, IL

Suburb in Illinois

Algonquin is a suburb in Illinois, home to about 30,000 people, with 3.4 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Algonquin a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 15 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Mild summers: highs around 82°F
  • Big job market: about 3.4 million people live within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 2.44% property tax
  • Cloudier than most places
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Algonquin ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
30,000
3.4 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
33°F / 82°F
Average daily highs · 32″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$365k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,290/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
104
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,002
State income tax per resident · 2.44% property tax
Safety
0.2× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
2 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
15
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Good
Tests above US average · 15 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
44%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
ORD
25 mi away

Living in Algonquin: common questions

What is the cost of living in Algonquin?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $365k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,290 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Algonquin?

Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.44% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Algonquin safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Algonquin?

Public schools in Algonquin test above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 15 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Algonquin?

Algonquin has cold winters: winter days average around 33°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 32″ of snow a year.

Does Algonquin get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and cold waves: 2 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Algonquin?

The nearest major airport is ORD, about 25 mi away.

How Algonquin scores

Each bar compares Algonquin with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeBig city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietSuburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundMostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureStrong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAverage cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceModerate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityTight-knit community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingGood
💸Low taxesPoor
💼Job marketExcellent
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsGood
🎓EducationAverage
🧸Kids & familyExcellent
🐕Dog-friendlyAverage
⛰️OutdoorsBelow average
🎭CultureAverage
👮SafetyVery safe
🌪️Few natural disastersExcellent
☀️SunnyBelow average
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like Algonquin

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Lake in the Hills, ILSuburb66 $364k$2,290/moVery safe Plainfield, ILSuburb66 $371k$2,290/moVery safe Crystal Lake, ILSuburb63 $351k$2,290/moVery safe Lockport, ILSuburb65 $353k$2,290/moVery safe Romeoville, ILSuburb64 $313k$2,290/moVery safe Huntley, ILSuburb63 $412k$2,290/moVery safe

Nearby

Lake in the Hills, ILSuburb · 1 mi away66 $364k$2,290/moVery safe Carpentersville, ILSuburb · 3 mi away60 $292k$2,290/moVery safe Crystal Lake, ILSuburb · 5 mi away63 $351k$2,290/moVery safe Huntley, ILSuburb · 6 mi away63 $412k$2,290/moVery safe Elgin, ILSuburb · 8 mi away58 $336k$2,290/moVery safe Hoffman Estates, ILSuburb · 11 mi away68 $386k$2,290/moVery safe

See all the best places to live in Illinois.

Is Algonquin right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.