Evanston vs Layton
The short version
- Layton is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Evanston area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $477,700 in Layton and $481,200 in Evanston.
- Households earn more in Layton ($102,480 vs $96,434 median).
- Layton has the warmer winter: January highs of 37°F vs 32°F.
- Evanston gets far more snow: 38 inches a year vs 23.
- Layton has more scorching days: 41 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 17.
- Layton is growing faster: +4.3% since 2020 vs -2.2%.
- Commutes are shorter in Layton (23 vs 28 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Evanston, IL | Layton, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 76,380 | 85,308 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2.2% | +4.3% |
| People per square mile | 9,819 | 3,781 |
| Median age | 38.4 | 32.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70% | 37% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $96,434 | $102,480 |
| Median home value | $481,200 | $477,700 |
| Home value to income | 5.0× | 4.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,762 | $1,538 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 103.6 | 100.3 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 112.0 | 117.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $77,700 | $75,300 |
| Homeowners | 56% | 73% |
| Top state income tax | 4.95% | 4.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.98% | 7.42% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 27.5 | 22.9 |
| Work from home | 29% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 12% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.2% | 2.8% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 8.1% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 32° / 19° | 37° / 20° |
| July high / low | 85° / 66° | 92° / 64° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 26 in |
| Snowfall per year | 38 in | 23 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 17 | 41 |
| Nights below freezing | 121 | 132 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 87.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 30% | 56% |
| Home prices, past year | +6.2% | +3.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +45.5% | +33.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Evanston: May to October. Layton: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Evanston weather by month and Layton weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,700 in Evanston and $75,300 in Layton. Moving from Evanston to Layton, you would need about $72,600 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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