What it's like to live in Romeoville
Romeoville is a small city in Illinois with home prices that remain within reach, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, 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. Romeoville deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Romeoville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Romeoville
Based on Romeoville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,772
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $75,440 a year
- 57% of Romeoville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$51,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,710
- Homes cost 2.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 33% above US
$1,886/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,886 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $257,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $257,100 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 66% below US
112 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 829/100k · Romeoville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 24% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.3 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% 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 & workforce▼ 21% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 (26 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Romeoville's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and household incomes running above 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 ($1,886/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Romeoville
All Illinois guides →Moving to Bolingbrook →
4 mi away · pop. 74,096
Rent $1,749/mo · Income $108,400
Compare with Romeoville →Moving to Crest Hill →
4 mi away · pop. 20,628
Rent $1,481/mo · Income $73,033
Compare with Romeoville →Moving to Lockport →
5 mi away · pop. 26,409
Rent $1,525/mo · Income $111,981
Compare with Romeoville →Not sure Romeoville is the one?
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