Should I Move To
Wheaton, Illinois is home to about 53,673 people. On cost of living, it lands in the moderate band — 6% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,673 a month against a typical household income of $113,523. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 51 out of 100 (grade C-), putting it at #455 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wheaton's composite cost-of-living index lands at 106 (100 = US average), which puts it in the moderate band. At $1,673/mo against $113,523 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 18% of income on housing — comfortably under the 30% rule of thumb, which is unusual. Median home value sits around $430,600.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is cold-winter — summer averages around 82°F, winter averages around 22°F. Precipitation totals about 38 inches a year. Very walkable in most central neighborhoods — daily errands rarely require a car. Air quality is moderate (AQI 52).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Wheaton reads as a moderate fit for families. It earns 57/100 (grade C) on the families profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on environmental quality (14/100).
Wheaton doesn't obviously fit retirees. It earns 44/100 (grade D) on the retirees profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on environmental quality (14/100).
Wheaton doesn't obviously fit remote workers. It earns 41/100 (grade D) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on environmental quality (14/100).
Wheaton reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. It earns 66/100 (grade B-) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on education (93/100); weakest on environmental quality (14/100).
Wheaton, Illinois pulls a 51/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade C-), currently ranked #455 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Wheaton's cost-of-living index is 106 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the moderate band — 6% above the national average. Median rent runs about $1,673/mo.
Cold-winter — summer averages around 82°F, winter averages around 22°F, with about 38 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 72/100. Very walkable in most central neighborhoods — daily errands rarely require a car.
Wheaton has about 53,673 residents, 64% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 37.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Wheaton head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Wheaton stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Wheaton with other Illinois cities scored on UrbRank.
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