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Moving to
Burr Ridge.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it's like to live in Burr Ridge
Burr Ridge is a small city in Illinois with crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Burr Ridge deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
How Burr Ridge compares
Median rent (per month)
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median home value
What it takes to move to Burr Ridge
Based on Burr Ridge's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$7,002
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $140,040 a year
- 73% of Burr Ridge renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$140,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $70,040
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingCensus top category
$3,500+/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,500+ a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $700,400. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $700,400 · 73% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in DuPage County is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
DuPage County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 81% below US
62 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 696/100k · Burr Ridge Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 12% above US
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% take public transit; 29% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 85% above US
67% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, 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 (16 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Burr Ridge's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (29% 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 Burr Ridge
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