Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Buffalo Grove, IL

    Is Buffalo Grove a good place to live?

    Watch Buffalo Grove

    Buffalo Grove ranks #4 of 87 Illinois cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (78/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $392,900
    +3.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $2,042
    per month
    Household income
    $129,820
    median
    Unemployment
    2.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Buffalo Grove

    The median home value in Buffalo Grove is $392,900 and median rent is $2,042 a month, against a median household income of $129,820. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Buffalo Grove crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Illinois the 2025 rate was 258 violent and 1,556 property crimes per 100,000 people — #24 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Buffalo Grove, IL

    Buffalo Grove has about 42,824 residents, 2.5% unemployment and 37% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Buffalo Grove with

    Buffalo Grove vs ChicagoBuffalo Grove vs AuroraBuffalo Grove vs JolietBuffalo Grove vs NapervilleBuffalo Grove vs RockfordBuffalo Grove vs ElginBuffalo Grove vs SpringfieldBuffalo Grove vs Peoria

    More: Where to move in Illinois · Best counties in Illinois

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report