Living in Crystal Lake, IL
Suburb in Illinois
Crystal Lake is a suburb in Illinois, home to about 40,000 people, with 2.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly houses.
Is Crystal Lake a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 14 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Family-friendly: playgrounds, family attractions and plenty of households with kids
- Mild summers: highs around 82°F
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 2.56% property tax
- Cloudier than most places
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- 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 Crystal Lake ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Crystal Lake: common questions
What is the cost of living in Crystal Lake?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $351k, 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 Crystal Lake?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.56% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Crystal Lake safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Crystal Lake?
Crystal Lake has cold winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 35″ of snow a year.
Does Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake?
The nearest major airport is ORD, about 28 mi away.
How Crystal Lake scores
Each bar compares Crystal Lake with the other 1143 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).
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Nearby
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Is Crystal Lake right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.