What are the schools like in Island Lake, IL?

Island Lake is served primarily by Wauconda CUSD 118. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Island Lake?

The median household income in Island Lake, IL is $91,852 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Island Lake, IL?

Island Lake has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Island Lake, IL affordable or expensive?

Island Lake's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Island Lake is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $223,100 and the median rent is $1,754 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Island Lake, IL?

Island Lake has a violent crime rate of 62.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 526.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Island Lake, IL a Good Place to Live?

Island Lake is a small town of 8,039 in Illinois, with a median household income of $91,852 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Island Lake stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Island Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Island Lake 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

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

Metric	Island Lake, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$223,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,754	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,852	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Island Lake's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

62.7 /100k

Property Crime

526.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Island Lake is served primarily by Wauconda CUSD 118. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Island Lake, IL	National Avg
School District	Wauconda CUSD 118	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Island Lake sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July, with 37.0 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Island Lake, IL
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	84.2°F
Annual Precipitation	37.0"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Island Lake, IL	National Avg
Population	8,039	—
Median Age	40.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	34.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.8%	6.3%
Under 18	21.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Burtons Bridge, IL 2 mi Holiday Hills, IL 2 mi Port Barrington, IL 2 mi Oakwood Hills, IL 3 mi Wauconda, IL 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Island Lake

Island Lake, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60042

Island Lake vs Other Cities

Island Lake, IL vs Burtons Bridge, IL Island Lake, IL vs Holiday Hills, IL Island Lake, IL vs Port Barrington, IL Island Lake, IL vs Oakwood Hills, IL Island Lake, IL vs Wauconda, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Island Lake, IL affordable or expensive?

Island Lake's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Island Lake roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $223,100 and median rent is $1,754/month.

What is the crime rate in Island Lake, IL?

Island Lake's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 526.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Island Lake?

Public schools in Island Lake are operated by Wauconda CUSD 118. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 27.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Island Lake, IL a good place to live?

Island Lake, IL has a population of 8,039, a median household income of $91,852, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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 Island Lake?

Island Lake averages 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.0 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Island Lake?

Island Lake, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60042.

What is the population of Island Lake?

The population of Island Lake, Illinois is 8,039 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Island Lake?

Key numbers for living in Island Lake: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $223,100, median household income $91,852, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Island Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.