What are the schools like in Lake Bluff, IL?

Lake Bluff is served primarily by Lake Bluff ESD 65. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.6:1.

What is the median household income in Lake Bluff?

The median household income in Lake Bluff, IL is $190,179 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Lake Bluff, IL?

Lake Bluff has an average high temperature of 29.8°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Lake Bluff, IL affordable or expensive?

Lake Bluff's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lake Bluff is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $722,300 and the median rent is $1,845 per month.

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

Lake Bluff has a violent crime rate of 36.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 835.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lake Bluff, IL a Good Place to Live?

Lake Bluff is a small town of 5,919 in Illinois, with a median household income of $190,179 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Lake Bluff is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lake Bluff 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

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

Metric	Lake Bluff, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$722,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,845	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	90.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$190,179	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lake Bluff's violent crime rate is 36.3 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

36.3 /100k

Property Crime

835.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lake Bluff is served primarily by Lake Bluff ESD 65. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lake Bluff, IL	National Avg
School District	Lake Bluff ESD 65	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	80.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lake Bluff sees average highs of 29.8°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lake Bluff, IL
Average High — January	29.8°F
Average High — July	81.7°F
Annual Precipitation	39.3"
Annual Snowfall	33.6"

Demographics

Metric	Lake Bluff, IL	National Avg
Population	5,919	—
Median Age	45.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.7%	18.9%
Asian	7.1%	6.3%
Under 18	25.8%	22.2%
65 and over	19.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Knollwood, IL 1 mi North Chicago, IL 2 mi Green Oaks, IL 3 mi Lake Forest, IL 3 mi Mettawa, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Lake Bluff

Lake Bluff, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60044

Lake Bluff vs Other Cities

Lake Bluff, IL vs Knollwood, IL Lake Bluff, IL vs North Chicago, IL Lake Bluff, IL vs Green Oaks, IL Lake Bluff, IL vs Lake Forest, IL Lake Bluff, IL vs Mettawa, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Bluff, IL affordable or expensive?

Lake Bluff's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lake Bluff roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $722,300 and median rent is $1,845/month.

What is the crime rate in Lake Bluff, IL?

Lake Bluff's violent crime rate is 36.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 835.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lake Bluff?

Public schools in Lake Bluff are operated by Lake Bluff ESD 65. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 80.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lake Bluff, IL a good place to live?

Lake Bluff, IL has a population of 5,919, a median household income of $190,179, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Lake Bluff?

Lake Bluff averages 29.8°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches with about 33.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lake Bluff?

Lake Bluff, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60044.

What is the population of Lake Bluff?

The population of Lake Bluff, Illinois is 5,919 with a median age of 45.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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

Key numbers for living in Lake Bluff: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $722,300, median household income $190,179, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Bluff side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.