Living in Crystal Lake
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, FBI UCR, BestPlaces, WalkScore · Updated 2026-04
Why Crystal Lake?
- ✓ Historic downtown with locally owned shops and restaurants
- ✓ Over 40 parks and 1,000+ acres of open space
- ✓ Direct Metra service to downtown Chicago (75 min)
- ✓ Top-rated school districts (D47 and D155)
- ✓ Crystal Lake — the actual lake — with public beach and boating
- ✓ Active community events calendar year-round
- ✓ Low violent crime rate (1.4 per 1,000 vs. 4.1 state avg)
32
Walk Score
38
Bike Score
1.4
Violent Crime / 1,000
15.8 mi²
City Area
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average. Higher means more expensive.
97.2
Crystal Lake
107.3
Chicago
100.0
National Avg
Crystal Lake vs. Chicago vs. National
| Metric | Crystal Lake | Chicago | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $89,521 | $65,781 | $74,580 |
| Median Home Value | $285,000 | $295,000 | $281,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,185 | $1,295 | $1,163 |
| Property Tax Rate (Effective) | 2.67% | 1.68% | 1.10% |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% | 40.4% | 33.7% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 5.2% | 3.7% |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 33.9 | 38.9 |
| Mean Commute Time | 33.4 min | 35.1 min | 27.6 min |
Crime Rate Comparison (per 1,000)
Commute to Chicago
🚆
Metra — Crystal Lake (UP-NW)
75 min to Ogilvie Transportation Center
Monthly pass: $216.25
🚗
Driving
50 miles · ~65 min (typical, varies with traffic)