Darien, IL vs Hercules, CA
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.
Darien
75.1
#500 nationally
Hercules
63.3
#1776 nationally
Darien leads in crime level (1.1 vs 4.6). Darien leads in cost of living index (122 vs 171). Darien leads in average commute (29.7 min vs 40.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Darien, IL | Hercules, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.1 (#500) | 63.3 (#1776) |
| Population | 21,698 | 26,582 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $463,450 | $743,984 |
| Median Household Income | $110,546 | $125,880 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 40.4 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 29 |
| Crime Level | 1.1 | 4.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 171 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | D+38.0 |
C
75.1 Score
Darien, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$463,450
Population
21,698
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
35
Midwest
View Darien, IL →
D
63.3 Score
Hercules, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$743,984
Population
26,582
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Hercules, CA →