2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Arlington Heights

Illinois (IL)
Best for: Households seeking established suburban Chicago neighborhoods
Arlington Heights IL 2027 livability
Small City
2027 CITY CLASSSmall City25,000–99,999 residents
Modern Livability75.9/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population76,216
Median Home$414,500
Median Rent$1,760
Median Household Income$116,723
Cost of LivingRPP 103.6 (US=100; BEA 2024; metro area)
Average Commute27.7 min (ACS 2020-2024)
Unemployment3.5% (ACS 2020-2024; civilian labor force)
Metro AreaChicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

75.9overall
Housing & Financial Reality87.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living77.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability86.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity79.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness84.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place72.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion67.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape73.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging78.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment47.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture74.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity81.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionACS average one-way commute: 27.7 minutes (2020-2024, excluding workers at home). Workplace location and departure time still determine individual travel. This is a commute measure, not a live traffic-delay index.
Weekend EscapeLake Arlington Park offers a walking path and lakeside recreation. Regional trips depend on travel time and seasonal conditions.
WalkabilityCitywide Walk Score 48/100 (directory checked October 2026). Many errands require a car; selected centers may be more walkable.
Airport AccessChicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a regional air-travel option. Check the airport for current destinations; no drive-time estimate is assumed.
Outdoor AccessLake Arlington Park offers a walking path and lakeside recreation.
Healthcare AccessEndeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital provides a local or nearby hospital option. Check insurance networks, service availability and specialist access individually.
Air QualityAir quality changes by day and season. Check AirNow for local ozone and fine-particle conditions, particularly during heat or smoke events; no citywide annual AQI rating is assigned here.
Third Places / Social LifeArlington Heights's parks and recreation facilities provide public gathering spaces. A mature northwest suburb with a defined center and residential districts. The mix of libraries, cafes and community activities varies by neighborhood.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Growing: +0.8% population change from 2024 to 2025 (same Census vintage). This describes population only, not a forecast.
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Arlington Heights has 76,216 residents in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate and is #507 in the incorporated-place population ranking used for this batch. The ACS 2020-2024 estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $414,500, median monthly gross rent of $1,760, and median household income of $116,723. These are survey-period estimates, not current listings or asking rents. Lake Arlington Park offers a walking path and lakeside recreation. Livability scores are provisional editorial assessments for review, not official Census ratings.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

A mature northwest suburb with a defined center and residential districts.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Median home value below four times median household income; Access to Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital; Lake Arlington Park offers a walking path and lakeside recreation.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

Cold winters, regional living costs and car dependence outside selected centers.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Arlington Heights ranks