Is Downers Grove, IL a Good Place to Live?
Downers Grove is a small city of 49,996 in Illinois, with a median household income of $115,461 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: Downers Grove stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Downers Grove is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Downers Grove 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: 102.6Downers Grove's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Downers Grove costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Downers Grove, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $425,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,535 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $115,461 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeDowners Grove's violent crime rate is 113.0 per 100,000 residents — 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Downers Grove is served primarily by Downers Grove GSD 58. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Downers Grove, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Downers Grove GSD 58 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 11 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 14.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 96.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Downers Grove sees average highs of 32.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 42.3 inches of annual precipitation and 24.3 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Downers Grove, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 32.8°F |
| Average High — July | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" |
Demographics
| Metric | Downers Grove, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,996 | — |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 28.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 84.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 3.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Downers Grove
Downers Grove, IL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: