What it's like to live in Streamwood
Streamwood 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 class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Streamwood deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
How Streamwood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Streamwood
Based on Streamwood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,618
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $72,360 a year
- 56% of Streamwood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$54,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,120
- Homes cost 2.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 28% above US
$1,809/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,809 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 $271,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $271,200 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 12% above US
4.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 69% below US
102 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 549/100k · Streamwood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 16% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.1 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. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% 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
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 23% 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 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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
Streamwood'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 ($1,809/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, anyone who doesn't drive, and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Streamwood
All Illinois guides →Moving to Bartlett →
3 mi away · pop. 40,501
Rent $1,883/mo · Income $133,240
Compare with Streamwood →Moving to Hanover Park →
3 mi away · pop. 36,732
Rent $1,594/mo · Income $91,763
Compare with Streamwood →Moving to Hoffman Estates →
3 mi away · pop. 51,175
Rent $1,734/mo · Income $106,806
Compare with Streamwood →Not sure Streamwood is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.