Aurora, IL

Aurora is Illinois' second-largest city, not a bedroom suburb: it has its own downtown on the Fox River, the beautifully restored Paramount Theatre with a Broadway series that draws from the whole region, and a diverse population of roughly 180,000. Recent downtown investment has brought lofts, restaurants, and an arts economy back to the riverfront.

Metra's BNSF line terminates here, running express to Chicago in about an hour, and the fare-zone math makes it one of the cheaper long commutes. But daily life is car-based, generally two per household. Housing costs run well below the eastern BNSF towns like Naperville. Aurora suits buyers who want the most house and the most city-of-its-own character available on a western Metra line.

Aurora offers limited transit access: most households rely on personal vehicles. Most households here need two cars, which adds substantially to annual costs.

At roughly $24,000/year for 2 cars, transportation is a major line item in Aurora's true cost. Combined with a 70-minute commute valued at $14,583/year, the true cost of suburban living in Aurora can significantly exceed what the rent or mortgage alone suggests.