10 Best Independent Living Communities in Northbrook, IL

Learn More About Independent Living in Northbrook, IL

Northbrook is a quiet suburb north of Chicago that’s consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in Illinois. It’s famous for being the home of director John Hughes, who set many of his works in a fictionalized version of the city. Movie fans should keep an eye out for a number of local landmarks that have appeared in films such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “The Breakfast Club,” and “Uncle Buck.”

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Northbrook, Illinois are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Northbrook retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Northbrook, IL

In 2019, the median monthly cost of independent living in Northbrook was about $4,000 in the city proper and $2,200 within the metropolitan area. The median monthly cost for independent living in 2019 in the state of Illinois was around $2,300.

Learn More About Northbrook, IL

Cost of Living

Northbrook is an affluent suburb of Chicago with high property values and a cost of living which is much higher than the national average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is two times greater than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half the average.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Grocery	Clothing
123	121	139	123	116	121

Income and Housing

Median income age 45-64	Median income age 65+	Median household income	Average individual income	Median employee salary	Average property tax	One-bedroom apartment gross rent estimate
$159,289 per year	$69,084 per year	$116,547 per year	$62,435 per year	$45,916 per year	$10,503 per year	$1,055 per month

Local Hospitals

The top hospitals that service Northbrook include:

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

• Facility type: faith-based, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 640+
• Specialties: cardiovascular care, cancer care, brain and spine care

Chicago Behavioral Hospital

• Facility type: proprietary, psychiatric care
• Bed count: 130+
• Specialties: behavioral health, geriatric psychiatry

Evanston Hospital

• Facility type: nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 750+
• Specialties: emergency department, primary stroke center, level I trauma center

Weather and Climate

Northbrook’s climate is classified as humid continental, which means the city experiences hot, muggy summers and cold winters with a wide variation in seasonal temperature. Northbrook also receives above-average snowfall during winter months. The average humidity level is 68%, and humidity levels are often highest during January at about 74%.

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
22°F	30°F	14°F

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
73°F	83°F	63°F

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 101

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average Annual Precipitation: 36.8″

Demographics and Values

Population Statistics

Median age	Percent of population over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
50.1	27%	33,672	2,542.9 per square mile	2.6

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.1%	14.5%	1.3%	2.1%	<0.1%	1.4%	80.8%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Chicago: 30/30
• Overall inclusivity: 100/100

2016 Presidential Election

Democratic	Republican	Other
74.4%	21.4%	4.2%

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

Northbrook, a quiet suburb north of Chicago, is consistently ranked as one of the top destinations to retire in Cook County. Keen-eyed cinephiles may recognize a few of the town’s landmarks from some of their favorite films. John Hughes, director of favorites like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “The Breakfast Club,” is from Northbrook and shot many of his movies around town. The town’s water tower, Glenbrook North High School, and the Northbrook Court Shopping Mall are just a few of the locations that make an appearance in his work.

Northbrook has many parks and golf courses for residents seeking opportunities for outdoor exercise and entertainment. Popular Northbrook parks include Wood Oaks Green Park, Brees Park, Floral Park, and Greenfield Park. Some of the area’s best golf courses are Sportsman’s Country Club, Anetsberger Golf Course, and Techny Prairie Park and Fields. Anyone interested in learning more about the region’s biodiversity should check out the Chicago Botanic Gardens, which is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the Skokie Lagoons.

Transportation

The Milwaukee District North Line provides daily rail service between Northbrook and Chicago with over 25 daily trips. There’s also PACE Special Services, which provides accessible, senior-friendly paratransit throughout the city.