Palatine, Illinois
Living in Palatine, IL: Costs, Commute and Schools
Living in Palatine, IL means a Metra line to downtown Chicago, two school districts and homes from 1970s condos to large single-family houses. Costs, taxes and areas by budget below.
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- Office at 553 N North CtDowntown Palatine
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- Free consultation,no obligation
Planning a move to Palatine?
Tell us your budget, your commute and the school area you want. We send the Palatine subdivisions that fit.
01 / At a glance
Living in Palatine, IL: is it a good place to live?
Living in Palatine, IL works for you if the budget, the commute and the schools line up with what you need. Here are the facts people moving to Palatine ask about first, each with its source.
Palatine is a village of about 66,000 people in northwest Cook County, with a small part in Lake County. It grew around its train station, and downtown still centers on the Metra stop at 137 W. Wood St. and Northwest Highway.
65,951
Residents
Village of Palatine, 2024 estimate
$377K
Median sale price
Redfin, 3 months ending September 2026
26.8 miles
Palatine station to Ogilvie in Chicago
Metra Union Pacific Northwest line
2
ZIP codes: 60067 and 60074
U.S. Postal Service
02 / Cost of living
Cost of living in Palatine, IL
Housing is the biggest line in the cost of living in Palatine, IL. What you pay depends far more on the home type and the subdivision than on the townwide average.
| Cost | What to expect in Palatine | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | What to expect in Palatine:$377K, up 2.5% year over year | Source:Redfin, 3 months ending September 2026 |
| Typical home value | What to expect in Palatine:$389,955, up 6.6% year over year | Source:Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026 |
| Price per square foot | What to expect in Palatine:$240, up 8.6% year over year | Source:Redfin, 3 months ending September 2026 |
| Condo HOA fees | What to expect in Palatine:$265 to $385 per month at Windhaven; $344 to $629 per month in the downtown buildings | Source:Homes by Marco (MLS-derived subdivision data), October 2026 |
| Property taxes | What to expect in Palatine:About $2,400 to $13,100 per year on average, by subdivision | Source:Homes by Marco (MLS-derived subdivision data), October 2026 |
Prices change every month. The Palatine housing market report has the latest figures for homes sold, days on market and price per square foot.
03 / Property taxes
Palatine, IL property taxes
Most of Palatine is in Cook County, where property taxes are paid a year behind, in two installments. The bill for one home depends on its assessed value and the exemptions it carries, such as the homeowner exemption.
Average yearly taxes in listing data show how much the bill moves from one part of Palatine to another:
| Subdivision | Home types | Average property tax |
|---|---|---|
| Windhaven | Home types:Condos, built 1971 to 1981 | Average property tax:$2,416 per year |
| The Preserve (downtown) | Home types:Condos, built 2006 | Average property tax:$7,168 per year |
| Palatine Station (downtown) | Home types:Townhomes and condos, built 2003 to 2008 | Average property tax:$8,688 per year |
| Plum Grove Estates | Home types:Single-family, mostly 1950s and 1960s | Average property tax:$11,592 per year |
| Hunting Ridge | Home types:Single-family, built 1968 to 1998 | Average property tax:$11,799 per year |
| Whytecliff | Home types:Single-family, mostly 1970s | Average property tax:$13,095 per year |
Homes by Marco (MLS-derived subdivision data), October 2026. Check the Cook County records for the tax bill of a single address.
04 / Commute
Commuting from Palatine to Chicago
Metra to downtown Chicago
The Palatine station at 137 W. Wood St. is on the Union Pacific Northwest line to Ogilvie Transportation Center, 26.8 miles away. The fastest trains take about 40 minutes and trains that stop at every station take close to an hour. Check the current Metra schedule for your train.
Condos a walk from the train
Palatine Station and The Preserve sit on W. Wood St., the same street as the station. See downtown Palatine condos near the Metra for sizes, HOA ranges and schools.
By car
Northwest Highway (US 14) runs through downtown, next to the rail line. Route 53 runs along the east side of the village and connects to I-90.
Metra, Union Pacific Northwest line. Ride times vary by train.
05 / Schools
Schools in Palatine: District 15 and District 211
Elementary and junior high
Community Consolidated School District 15 runs the elementary and junior high schools in Palatine. The elementary school is set by street.
High school
Township High School District 211 runs Palatine High School and William Fremd High School, and it decides which one an address feeds. See homes for sale in the Fremd High School district for the subdivisions in that attendance area.
College
William Rainey Harper College has its campus in Palatine, at 1200 W. Algonquin Rd.
Village of Palatine. Boundaries can change, so confirm the schools for any address with District 15 and District 211.
06 / Parks
Parks and recreation in Palatine
The Palatine Park District runs close to 50 parks and facilities. A few that newcomers ask about:
| Place | What is there |
|---|---|
| Palatine Hills Golf Course | What is there:18-hole public golf course |
| Community Park | What is there:Ice rink in winter |
| Margreth Riemer Reservoir | What is there:Free disc golf course and skate park |
| Plum Grove Reservoir | What is there:Dog park |
| Birchwood and Falcon Park | What is there:Recreation centers |
| Palatine Trail | What is there:Walking and biking trail across the village |
Palatine Park District, October 2026.
07 / Areas by budget
Palatine subdivisions by budget
From about $130,000 for a 1970s condo to more than $700,000 for a large single-family home, these are the Palatine areas buyers ask about most.
| Area | Home types | Price point in listing data |
|---|---|---|
| Windhaven | Home types:Condos, 1971 to 1981, 800 to 1,100 sq ft | Price point in listing data:Recent sales $127,000 to $160,000 |
| Downtown Palatine condos | Home types:Condos and townhomes near the Metra, 2003 to 2008 | Price point in listing data:Recent sales $382,500 to $505,000 |
| Hunting Ridge | Home types:Single-family, 1968 to 1998, 2,041 to 4,746 sq ft | Price point in listing data:Recent sales $520,000 to $750,000 |
| Plum Grove Estates | Home types:Single-family ranch, split-level and two-story, mostly 1950s and 1960s | Price point in listing data:Median sale price about $672,000 |
| Fremd High School area | Home types:Condos to single-family homes in six subdivisions | Price point in listing data:Median sale prices $390,500 to $755,000 |
Homes by Marco (MLS-derived subdivision data), October 2026.
Ready to look? A buyers agent in Palatine builds your search around these areas, then handles tours, offers and closing.
08 / Questions
Questions about living in Palatine
It depends on your budget, commute and schools. Palatine has its own Metra station on the line to downtown Chicago, District 15 and District 211 schools, close to 50 parks and homes from about $130,000 condos to single-family homes over $700,000.
Housing drives it. Redfin reports a $377K median sale price in Palatine for the 3 months ending September 2026, and average property taxes in listing data run from about $2,400 to $13,100 a year, depending on the subdivision.
It depends on the home. Average yearly taxes in listing data run from $2,416 at Windhaven to $13,095 in Whytecliff. Cook County bills Palatine homes a year behind, in two installments.
About 40 minutes on the fastest Metra trains and close to an hour on trains that make every stop. The Palatine station is at 137 W. Wood St., 26.8 miles from Ogilvie Transportation Center.
District 15 runs the elementary and junior high schools, and District 211 runs Palatine High School and William Fremd High School. Confirm the schools for each Palatine address with both districts.
Yes. Moving to Palatine, IL starts with a free consultation by phone. Then we send listings in the subdivisions that fit your budget, commute and school area.
More answers on our Palatine real estate questions page.
09 / More guides
More Palatine guides
Planning your move to Palatine?
Tell us your budget, commute and school area. We send the Palatine subdivisions and listings that fit. No cost and no obligation.
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