Pritchettschool, 2006
Buffalo Grove’s story
152 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,492 in 1960, 43,212 in 2020. The archive holds 13 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 7 maps from 1900 on.
- 1874Buffalo Grove is settled
Photo: YourJudge · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
42,812
2025 Census estimate · −0.9% since 2020
Typical home
$444K
+5.8% in a year
Household income
$129K
median
Median age
42.0
years
Jobs based here
14,618
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#31 of 767 in IL
Why does Buffalo Grove grade so well?
Few places in the country grade higher. Buffalo Grove earns an A+, ranked 31st of 767 in Illinois. Residents are healthier than 98% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates, the median household earns $129K, and its schools rank ahead of 85% of Illinois towns. The exception is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $444K for a typical one and 4.9 times the Chicago metro’s $91K median household income. 69% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Buffalo Grove, above both the Illinois town median (29%) and the median of U.S. towns (29%). Buffalo Grove is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 90% of U.S. towns. Only 116 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns score lower on history.
What makes Buffalo Grove stand out
Where Buffalo Grove beats most towns.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Buffalo Grove for work
Where Buffalo Grove’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
14,618jobs based in Buffalo Grove
6%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Buffalo Grove grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Buffalo Grove is from typical.
HealthNorthwest Community Hospital 1 7 miles awayA+Open →Jobs & incomeAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.2 of 20; 3.7% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →SafetyA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 8% conserved landA−Open →History10 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life2.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 179 attractions →Wrigley Field and 153 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Buffalo Grove. Close and well known come first.
Big draw22 mi Stadium & arenaWrigley Field
Big draw28 mi Stadium & arenaSoldier Field
Big draw33 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
12 mi Stadium & arenaAllstate Arena
Big draw14 mi Theme parkSix Flags Great America3.0M visitors a year
Big draw29 mi Stadium & arenaRate FieldSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Wrigley Field: Ryan Dickey, CC BY 2.0 · Soldier Field: Photo by Joon Han Contact: [email protected], CC BY-SA 3.0 · Barack Obama Presidential Center: AlphaBeta135, CC0 · Allstate Arena: Nkon21, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Six Flags Great America: Feather Better, CC BY 4.0 · Rate Field: User Enoch Lai on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Buffalo Grove: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Buffalo Grove, and how to reach them.
PowerCommonwealth Edison17.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBuffalo Grove water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
SchoolsAdlai E. Stevenson High School District 125Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School DistrictKildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 963 districts serve Buffalo Grove; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLake County ClerkLake County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2024
ZIP code6008960089 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Buffalo Grove.
Buffalo Grove has less no health insurance than most of Illinois, has seen reported crime fall by a third or more and has household incomes well above the Illinois norm.
HealthA+
Fewer of Buffalo Grove’s adults report frequent physical distress than in the typical Illinois or U.S. town
Its widest gap with Illinois is no health insurance: 4.9% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 9.9% statewide.
9.1% of adults report frequent physical distress in Buffalo Grove. Buffalo Grove beats the Illinois average on 26 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 12% of adults report frequent mental distress in Buffalo Grove.
98%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Buffalo Grove | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 17% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.1% | 13% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 37% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 22% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
26 better5 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Buffalo Grove | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 4.9% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.9% | 15.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.4% | 7.6% |
Northwest Community Hospital 1
7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
97th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Buffalo Grove’s grade for cost of living is a C−
The median rent in Buffalo Grove is $2,037 a month. Typical home values rose 5.8% in the year to September 2026. 35% of Buffalo Grove renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
$444KZillow home value
| Buffalo Grove | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,037 a month | $1,128 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 35% | 46% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 80% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Buffalo Grove$444K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
45
days on market
100.7%
sale-to-list price
+5.8%
value change, 1 year
71
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyA−
Less crime per resident in Buffalo Grove than in 84% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 313 to 193 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 10 reported in 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Buffalo Grove’s violent crime rate is 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
84%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Buffalo Grove | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.2 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Buffalo Grove0.2
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Buffalo Grove4.2
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
84th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
83rd
percentile among IL towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
183
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsA−
Buffalo Grove has set aside 8.1% of its land for conservation
3.4 miles of trail in 39 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Mike Rylko Community Park, at 79 acres.
#337for trails in IL
| Buffalo Grove | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 8.1% | 3.6% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
8.1%
conserved · 495 of 6,090 acres
3.4 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mike Rylko Community Park | 0.2 mi | 79 |
| 2. Willow Stream Park | — | 59 |
| 3. Churchill Park | — | 21 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Buffalo Grove stands out in Illinois and nationally: a larger share of its workers work from home
32.1% of workers work from home, against 15.9% across Illinois.
Most working residents leave Buffalo Grove for work: only 6% work in town. Jobs based in Buffalo Grove fell to 14,618 in 2023, 1,124 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Chicago (17%), Arlington Heights (3%) and Northbrook (3%).
6%work in town
| Buffalo Grove | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 32% | 11% | 11% |
| Median household income | $129,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.6% | 8.4% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Buffalo Grove6%
Chicago17%
Arlington Heights3%
Northbrook3%
Schaumburg3%
11 mi
median commute distance
14,618
jobs based in Buffalo Grove
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Buffalo Grove has four seasons and pleasant summers
Buffalo Grove has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 16° and about 34 inches of snow falls in a winter.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–34°
Spring38–58°
Summer61–81°
Fall43–62°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 26
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Moderate risk in Buffalo Grove, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 18 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Buffalo Grove.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
18
paid flood claims since 1979
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Buffalo Grove
20pages on Buffalo Grove
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 85% of IL districtsSafetyA−0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than IL on 26 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$444K typical home · up 5.8% in a yearWork & commuteA$129K median household income · 14,618 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 55% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
10 within 15 miles of the center of Buffalo Grove
Trinity International University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Deerfield4.7 mi$12,320 tuitionWilliam Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · Palatine8.1 mi$3,894 in-state tuitionUniversity of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mundelein8.2 mi
About 7 of every 100 Buffalo Grove residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois.
Famous people from Buffalo Grove
10 notable people were born in Buffalo Grove.
A
Aaron HimelsteinAmerican actor · born 1985
S
Stefan AntonijevicSerbian-American soccer player · born 1989
About Buffalo Grove
Village in Illinois, United States of America
Buffalo Grove is a village in Lake and Cook Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Downtown Chicago and 20 miles (32 km) north of O'Hare International Airport. As of the 2020 Census, Buffalo Grove has a population of 43,212. It totals 9.6 square miles (25 km2) of land, with the northern three-quarters in Lake County and the southern quarter in Cook County. Roads in the village, such as Lake Cook Road and Illinois Route 83, converge on I-294. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Before European colonization, Native American Potawatomi tribes inhabited the present area. The name "Buffalo Grove" comes from the English tr…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1958
- Area
- 9.5 sq mi
- ZIP code
- 60089
Buffalo Grove’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Buffalo Grove.
WheelingLong GroveLincolnshireArlington HeightsVernon HillsRiverwoodsBuffalo Grove
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Grove | #31 | A+ | C− | A− | A | A+ |
| Wheeling | #319 | B+ | C− | B+ | B+ | A− |
| Long Grove | #44 | A+ | D | — | A+ | A+ |
| Lincolnshire | #66 | A | D | B+ | A+ | A+ |
| Arlington Heights | #88 | A | D | B+ | A | A+ |
| Vernon Hills | #108 | A | D | B | A+ | A+ |
| Riverwoods | #8 | A+ | C− | A | A+ | A+ |
Long Grove reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Buffalo Grove with a neighbor →
Questions about Buffalo Grove
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Buffalo Grove, IL a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Buffalo Grove grades A+ overall, better than 97% of U.S. towns and #31 of 767 in Illinois. It grades A+ for health, A− for safety and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
What is Buffalo Grove, IL known for?
10 notable people were born here, including Aaron Himelstein and Felice Herrig.