What it's like to live in Bartlett
Bartlett is a small city in Illinois with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bartlett deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
How Bartlett compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bartlett
Based on Bartlett's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,766
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $75,320 a year
- 46% of Bartlett renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$75,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,570
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 33% above US
$1,883/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,883 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $375,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $375,700 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 87% below US
42 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 246/100k · Bartlett Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 14% above US
30 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.7 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 16°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 38% above US
50% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 50% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (37 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Bartlett's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,883/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Bartlett
All Illinois guides →Moving to Streamwood →
3 mi away · pop. 39,001
Rent $1,809/mo · Income $101,218
Compare with Bartlett →Moving to Hanover Park →
3 mi away · pop. 36,732
Rent $1,594/mo · Income $91,763
Compare with Bartlett →Moving to South Elgin →
6 mi away · pop. 24,217
Rent $1,640/mo · Income $127,203
Compare with Bartlett →Moving to Carol Stream →
6 mi away · pop. 39,460
Rent $1,529/mo · Income $102,309
Compare with Bartlett →Not sure Bartlett is the one?
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