What it's like to live in Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais is a small city in Illinois with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bourbonnais deals with county unemployment above the national average, cold winters, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Bourbonnais compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bourbonnais
Based on Bourbonnais's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,538
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,760 a year
- 38% of Bourbonnais renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$50,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,310
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 10% below US
$1,269/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,269 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $253,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $253,100 · 38% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Kankakee County is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Kankakee County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 50% below US
166 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 498/100k · Bourbonnais Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below 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 (38 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Bourbonnais's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,269/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Bourbonnais
All Illinois guides →Moving to Kankakee →
6 mi away · pop. 23,996
Rent $1,023/mo · Income $47,514
Compare with Bourbonnais →Moving to Manhattan →
18 mi away · pop. 11,026
Rent $1,213/mo · Income $128,522
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