City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Crystal Lake, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Crystal Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

40,436
Residents
$105,428
Median income
$287,400
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Crystal Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Crystal Lake places in the 81st percentile for household income and the 55th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

81st
percentile, household income
63rd
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
55th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Crystal Lake, IL

Illinois's Crystal Lake is a small city, with 40,436 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $105,428 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.1%. Crystal Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $287,400, and the median resident age is 39.5 years. About 42.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 67.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 400 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 321% from five years earlier. Crystal Lake reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1207.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Crystal Lake's yearly average temperature at 49.1°F with 39.4 inches of precipitation per year and 35.1 inches of snowfall.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,781 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

40,436 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$105,428 /yr

Poverty 4.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Crystal Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Crystal Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 63% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 55% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Illinois alone, Crystal Lake ranks #275 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Crystal Lake's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

81stIncome percentile
55thSafety percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income · 55th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Crystal Lake's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Crystal Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 56 Avg. percentile National median
Crystal Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Crystal Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$287,400 37th percentile more affordable than 37% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Crystal Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Crystal Lake, IL Crystal Lake, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Crystal Lake, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Crystal Lake, IL median $105,428/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Crystal Lake, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Crystal Lake, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 42.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
40,436
Median Income
$105,428
Median Home Value
$287,400
Median Age
39.5
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Labor force participation
67.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
42.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1207.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
104.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1102.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.1°F
Annual Precipitation
39.4"
Annual Snowfall
35.1"

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
40,000 residents41,000 residents42,000 residents43,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 40,246 residents 42,288 residents ▲ +5.1%
Crystal Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
400
housing units authorized
Single-Family
139
detached homes
Multifamily
261
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
9.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 95
2020 83
2021 225
2022 133
2023 235
2024 400

Permit volume increased 321% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
13.9%
Other
1.3%

Based on 21,501 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Crystal Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

DeKalb
40,464 people
Bartlett
40,531 people
Romeoville
40,996 people
Carol Stream
39,427 people
Park Ridge
39,241 people
Quincy
39,188 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Crystal Lake's 40,436 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pine Bluff, AR
40,436 people
Woodlawn CDP (Baltimore County), MD
40,476 people
New Berlin, WI
40,384 people
Lake Oswego, OR
40,367 people
Kearny, NJ
40,570 people
Findlay, OH
40,280 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Crystal Lake's $105,428 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hanover, AL
$105,429 median income
Brownsburg, IN
$105,435 median income
Orchard Grass Hills, KY
$105,417 median income
Chase, PA
$105,417 median income
Pecan Gap, TX
$105,417 median income
Hager, WI
$105,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Crystal Lake, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Crystal Lake, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.0% 6.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.1% White 85.0% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 3.4% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.4% Two or more races 6.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Crystal Lake compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Crystal Lake (this city) 40,436 $105,428
DeKalb 40,464 $46,564
Bartlett 40,531 $130,479
Romeoville 40,996 $100,022
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Crystal Lake, IL?

What is the population of Crystal Lake, IL? +

Crystal Lake, IL has a population of 40,436 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Crystal Lake, IL? +

Crystal Lake households earn a median of $105,428 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Crystal Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Crystal Lake; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Crystal Lake, IL safe? +

Crystal Lake has a total crime rate of 1207.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Crystal Lake, IL? +

Homes in Crystal Lake carry a median value of $287,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Crystal Lake? +

Crystal Lake has an average annual temperature of 49.1°F, 39.4 inches of precipitation, and 35.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.