Cost of Living in Highwood, IL
Cost of Living in Highwood, IL has an overall index of 123, 23% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $461,197; typical monthly rent is $1,800; and median household income is $101,862.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Housing costs sit well above the national baseline. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Highwood
Living in Highwood
Is Highwood, IL an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Highwood is about 23% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 123. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $461,197, and monthly rents average roughly $1,800. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run higher than average as well.
How does Highwood fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,800, while local median household income is $101,862. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Highwood, IL?+
Illinois uses a flat model; 4.95% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 2.07% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $461,197 gives a planning estimate near $9,547 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 8.82%.
How much does it cost to rent in Highwood, IL?+
The typical monthly rent in Highwood is around $1,800. That's about 34% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $461,197, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Highwood, IL?+
The typical home value in Highwood is $461,197. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $2,238/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 49% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Highwood?+
Grocery prices in Highwood are noticeably pricier compared to the rest of the US (index: 107, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 84). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Highwood, IL like to live in?+
Highwood is a small town with a population of about 5,243. The median age of residents is 35.9, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 15.79%, near the national average of 12.4%.