What are the schools like in Darien, IL?

Darien is served primarily by Darien SD 61. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8:1.

What is the median household income in Darien?

The median household income in Darien, IL is $110,546 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Darien, IL?

Darien has an average high temperature of 33.1°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Darien, IL affordable or expensive?

Darien's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Darien is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $380,600 and the median rent is $1,719 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Darien, IL?

Darien has a violent crime rate of 41.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 916.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Darien, IL a Good Place to Live?

Darien is a small city of 21,953 in Illinois, with a median household income of $110,546 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Darien 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 Darien is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Darien 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

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

Metric	Darien, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$380,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,719	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$110,546	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Darien's violent crime rate is 41.7 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

41.7 /100k

Property Crime

916.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Darien is served primarily by Darien SD 61. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Darien, IL	National Avg
School District	Darien SD 61	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	52.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Darien sees average highs of 33.1°F in January and 89.5°F in July, with 40.3 inches of annual precipitation and 24.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Darien, IL
Average High — January	33.1°F
Average High — July	89.5°F
Annual Precipitation	40.3"
Annual Snowfall	24.3"

Demographics

Metric	Darien, IL	National Avg
Population	21,953	—
Median Age	45.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.0%	18.9%
Asian	11.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.7%	22.2%
65 and over	23.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Willowbrook, IL 3 mi Burr Ridge, IL 3 mi Woodridge, IL 3 mi Westmont, IL 3 mi Clarendon Hills, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Darien

Darien, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60561

Darien vs Other Cities

Darien, IL vs Willowbrook, IL Darien, IL vs Burr Ridge, IL Darien, IL vs Woodridge, IL Darien, IL vs Westmont, IL Darien, IL vs Clarendon Hills, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Darien, IL affordable or expensive?

Darien's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Darien roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $380,600 and median rent is $1,719/month.

What is the crime rate in Darien, IL?

Darien's violent crime rate is 41.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 916.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Darien?

Public schools in Darien are operated by Darien SD 61. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. 52.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Darien, IL a good place to live?

Darien, IL has a population of 21,953, a median household income of $110,546, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. 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 Darien?

Darien averages 33.1°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.3 inches with about 24.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Darien?

Darien, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60561.

What is the population of Darien?

The population of Darien, Illinois is 21,953 with a median age of 45.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Darien?

Key numbers for living in Darien: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $380,600, median household income $110,546, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Darien side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.