Gainesville, FL vs Palatine, 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.
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
Palatine
74.6
#575 nationally
Palatine leads in crime level (1.8 vs 20.2). Palatine leads in median household income ($93,383 vs $43,783). Gainesville leads in average commute (18.8 min vs 28.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Palatine, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68 (#1355) | 74.6 (#575) |
| Population | 145,812 | 64,869 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,659 | $396,744 |
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $93,383 |
| Average Commute | 18.8 min | 28.7 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 41 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 1.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 115 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+21.0 | D+42.0 |
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →
C
74.6 Score
Palatine, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$396,744
Population
64,869
Crime
Low
Walk Score
41
Midwest
View Palatine, IL →
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