What are the schools like in Carol Stream, IL?

Carol Stream is served primarily by CCSD 93. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.2:1.

What is the median household income in Carol Stream?

The median household income in Carol Stream, IL is $103,525 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Carol Stream, IL?

Carol Stream has an average high temperature of 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.0 inches.

Carol Stream, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carol Stream, IL affordable or expensive?

Carol Stream's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carol Stream is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $297,600 and the median rent is $1,398 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carol Stream, IL?

Carol Stream has a violent crime rate of 69.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 710.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carol Stream, IL a Good Place to Live?

Carol Stream is a small city of 39,656 in Illinois, with a median household income of $103,525 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Carol Stream stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carol Stream is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carol Stream city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Carol Stream's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carol Stream costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Carol Stream, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$297,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,398	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$103,525	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carol Stream's violent crime rate is 69.8 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

69.8 /100k

Property Crime

710.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carol Stream is served primarily by CCSD 93. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carol Stream, IL	National Avg
School District	CCSD 93	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carol Stream sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 40.1 inches of annual precipitation and 34.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carol Stream, IL
Average High — January	30.5°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	40.1"
Annual Snowfall	34.0"

Demographics

Metric	Carol Stream, IL	National Avg
Population	39,656	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	59.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.8%	18.9%
Asian	19.2%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	15.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glendale Heights, IL 3 mi Winfield, IL 3 mi Bloomingdale, IL 3 mi Bartlett, IL 4 mi Hanover Park, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Carol Stream

Carol Stream, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60188

Carol Stream vs Other Cities

Carol Stream, IL vs Glendale Heights, IL Carol Stream, IL vs Winfield, IL Carol Stream, IL vs Bloomingdale, IL Carol Stream, IL vs Bartlett, IL Carol Stream, IL vs Hanover Park, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carol Stream, IL affordable or expensive?

Carol Stream's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Carol Stream roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $297,600 and median rent is $1,398/month.

What is the crime rate in Carol Stream, IL?

Carol Stream's violent crime rate is 69.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 710.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carol Stream?

Public schools in Carol Stream are operated by CCSD 93. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1. 43.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carol Stream, IL a good place to live?

Carol Stream, IL has a population of 39,656, a median household income of $103,525, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carol Stream?

Carol Stream averages 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.1 inches with about 34.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carol Stream?

Carol Stream, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60188.

What is the population of Carol Stream?

The population of Carol Stream, Illinois is 39,656 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carol Stream?

Key numbers for living in Carol Stream: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $297,600, median household income $103,525, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carol Stream side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.