2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Crystal Lake, IL vs Carbondale, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Carbondale older or younger than people in Crystal Lake?
- The Median Age in Carbondale is 14.7 years younger than in Crystal Lake.

Are housing costs cheaper in Carbondale or Crystal Lake?
- Carbondale housing costs are 60.8% less expensive than Crystal Lake housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Carbondale or Crystal Lake?
- The average commute for residents of Carbondale is 18.0 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Crystal Lake.

Things to do in Crystal Lake?
Crystal Lake, Illinois is found in McHenry county giving its citizens access to top rated schools such as Crystal Lake South High School while also having shopping options at Crystal Point Mall and multiple restaurants including Wildfire Barbeque Co.

Things to do in Carbondale?
Carbondale, Illinois is a vibrant city located in the heart of Southern Illinois. Visitors will find plenty to do and explore, including popular attractions like the Giant City State Park and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The town boasts a thriving cultural scene with festivals, events, and live music venues all year round. Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy browsing through the abundance of eclectic specialty stores and boutiques. Those looking for outdoor adventure can take part in activities like kayaking or mountain biking at nearby Shawnee National Forest. With its diverse culture and plenty of recreational opportunities, Carbondale is an ideal destination for visitors looking to experience the best that Southern Illinois has to offer.

 Crystal Lake, ILCarbondale, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock22,388329,725,481
 Median Income$96,274  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock24.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$296,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.88  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Crystal Lake    7 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

Great area for recreational boating, fishing and biking. Great place to involve your kids as there are lots of opportunities' for football, baseball and dance. For  More

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Over 12 years ago

I have been living here for 12 years. It's a nice community with friendly people, but I hate the weather. It feels like winter is 6 months long with many overcast days,  More

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Over 12 years ago

A nice place to raise a family, but not a lot of diversity. We are looking to move from here and searching in the Colorado  More

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Reviews for Carbondale    7 Reviews

I've lived in C'dale for over 30 years. I got an excellent education here - Giant City School was great, though fairly insular and not very diverse (among its drawbacks  More

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Over 17 years ago

I like Carbondale. It is relaxing and an easy way to go about getting a college degree. It has its ups and downs, mainly with the people in the town not recognizing the  More

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All of the comments are negative here and seem to me to be misleading. The idea that you have to have a lot of money in Carbondale is ridiculous. The price of cultural  More

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