Altoona, IA vs Buffalo Grove, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Altoona
75.4
#455 nationally
Buffalo Grove
77.6
#229 nationally
Buffalo Grove leads in crime level (0.6 vs 3.9). Buffalo Grove leads in median household income ($127,553 vs $89,100). Altoona leads in cost of living index (99 vs 126).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Altoona, IA | Buffalo Grove, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.4 (#455) | 77.6 (#229) |
| Population | 21,698 | 42,482 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $321,727 | $452,107 |
| Median Household Income | $89,100 | $127,553 |
| Average Commute | 23.1 min | 28.8 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 40 |
| Crime Level | 3.9 | 0.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 99 | 126 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | D+20.8 |
Data coverage note: Altoona is missing data for 1 metric that Buffalo Grove has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
75.4 Score
Altoona, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$321,727
Population
21,698
Crime
Low
Median Income
$89,100
Midwest
View Altoona, IA →
C+
77.6 Score
Buffalo Grove, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$452,107
Population
42,482
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
40
Midwest
View Buffalo Grove, IL →
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