Population

Blacksburg

45,288

Downers Grove

49,867

Median Income

Blacksburg

$48,070

Downers Grove

$119,649

Home Value

Blacksburg

$417,200

Downers Grove

$439,000

Rent

Blacksburg

$1,290

Downers Grove

$1,589

Crime Rate

Blacksburg

0.77

Downers Grove

1.13

Cost of Living

Blacksburg

111.9

Downers Grove

170.2

Avg Temp

Blacksburg

N/A

Downers Grove

N/A

Unemployment

Blacksburg

4.2%

Downers Grove

4.0%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Blacksburg & Downers Grove?

Downers Grove is Blacksburg's #15 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Blacksburg

45,288

vs

Downers Grove

49,867

Match · 9% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Blacksburg at 45,288 and Downers Grove at 49,867.

Violent Crime

Blacksburg

0.77

vs

Downers Grove

1.13

Different · 32% difference
🚨

Downers Grove has a 32% higher violent crime than Blacksburg.

Property Crime

🔒

Blacksburg

7.15

vs

Downers Grove

8.72

Different · 18% difference

Downers Grove has a 18% higher property crime than Blacksburg.

Political Leaning

Blacksburg

47.4%

vs

Downers Grove

42.5%

Different · 10% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Blacksburg has a stronger Democratic lean (10% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Blacksburg

4.2%

vs

Downers Grove

4.0%

Match · 5% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 5% difference.

Median Income

Blacksburg

$48,070

vs

Downers Grove

$119,649

Different · 60% difference
💰

Downers Grove's median income is significantly higher than Blacksburg's — 60% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Blacksburg

$417,200

vs

Downers Grove

$439,000

Match · 5% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 5% difference.

Education

Blacksburg

25.6%

vs

Downers Grove

42.0%

Different · 39% difference
🎓

Downers Grove has a 39% higher education than Blacksburg.

Demographics

🌍

Blacksburg

77.7%

vs

Downers Grove

84.4%

Match · 8% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 8% difference.

Cost of Living

Blacksburg

111.9

vs

Downers Grove

170.2

Different · 34% difference
💵

Downers Grove has a 34% higher cost of living than Blacksburg.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Blacksburg and Downers Grove share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Blacksburg

vsof 8

0

Downers Grove

Downers Grove leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Blacksburg leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Blacksburg scores 63.7 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 130.7 in Downers Grove. Blacksburg scores 86.7 on the food index (100 = national avg) vs 141.5 in Downers Grove. Blacksburg has a fair market rent (1br) of $993 vs $1,581 in Downers Grove (37% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Blacksburg111.9
Downers Grove170.2

Housing Index

Blacksburg167.9
Downers Grove211.3

Food Index

Blacksburg86.7
Downers Grove141.5

Transportation Index

Blacksburg63.7
Downers Grove130.7

Healthcare Index

Blacksburg89.4
Downers Grove133.2

Utilities Index

Blacksburg105.6
Downers Grove147.1

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Blacksburg$49,222
Downers Grove$74,908

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Blacksburg$116,342
Downers Grove$177,055

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Blacksburg$993
Downers Grove$1,581

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Blacksburg$1,271
Downers Grove$1,781

Housing Market — Downers Grove leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Downers Grove has a vacancy rate of 4.3% compared to 18.1% in Blacksburg. Downers Grove has a owner-occupied of 75.3% compared to 34.2% in Blacksburg. Blacksburg has a median property tax of $3,341 vs $7,237 in Downers Grove (54% lower).

Median Home Value

Blacksburg$417,200
Downers Grove$439,000

Median Rent

Blacksburg$1,290
Downers Grove$1,589

Median Property Tax

Blacksburg$3,341
Downers Grove$7,237

Owner-Occupied

Blacksburg34.2%
Downers Grove75.3%

Vacancy Rate

Blacksburg18.1%
Downers Grove4.3%

Single-Family Homes

Blacksburg43.5%
Downers Grove69.4%

Jobs & Economy — Downers Grove leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Downers Grove has a poverty rate of 4.9% compared to 42.8% in Blacksburg. Downers Grove has a median household income of $119,649 vs $48,070 in Blacksburg (60% higher). Downers Grove has a per capita income of $67,649 vs $29,454 in Blacksburg (56% higher).

Median Household Income

Blacksburg$48,070
Downers Grove$119,649

Per Capita Income

Blacksburg$29,454
Downers Grove$67,649

Poverty Rate

Blacksburg42.8%
Downers Grove4.9%

Unemployment Rate

Blacksburg4.2%
Downers Grove4.0%

Labor Force

Blacksburg20,907
Downers Grove27,215

Mean Commute

Blacksburg13 min
Downers Grove21 min

Work from Home

Blacksburg17.2%
Downers Grove23.2%

Private Sector

Blacksburg94.4%
Downers Grove96.1%

Government Sector

Blacksburg41.5%
Downers Grove45.4%

Crime & Safety — Blacksburg leads

Source: FBI UCR

Blacksburg has a property crime clearance of 20.2% compared to 6.7% in Downers Grove. Blacksburg has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.00 compared to 0.02 in Downers Grove. Blacksburg has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.02 compared to 0.08 in Downers Grove.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg0.77
Downers Grove1.13

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg7.15
Downers Grove8.72

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg0.00
Downers Grove0.02

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg0.02
Downers Grove0.08

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg0.33
Downers Grove0.67

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg0.68
Downers Grove1.35

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Blacksburg6.23
Downers Grove6.48

Violent Crime Clearance

Blacksburg37.1%
Downers Grove30.4%

Property Crime Clearance

Blacksburg20.2%
Downers Grove6.7%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Avg Annual High

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Avg Annual Low

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Sunny Days per Year

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Annual Rainfall

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Annual Snowfall

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Avg Humidity

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Schools & Education — Downers Grove leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Downers Grove has a high school diploma or higher of 51.8% compared to 30.0% in Blacksburg. Downers Grove has a bachelor's degree or higher of 42.0% compared to 25.6% in Blacksburg.

Public Schools

Blacksburg0
Downers Grove0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

BlacksburgN/A
Downers GroveN/A

Colleges & Universities

Blacksburg0
Downers Grove0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Blacksburg25.6%
Downers Grove42.0%

High School Diploma or Higher

Blacksburg30.0%
Downers Grove51.8%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Downers Grove has a population of 49,867, about 1.1x the size of Blacksburg (45,288). Blacksburg skews younger with a median age of 21.9 vs 42.6.

Population

Blacksburg45,288
Downers Grove49,867

Median Age

Blacksburg22
Downers Grove43

Avg Household Size

Blacksburg2.6
Downers Grove2.4

Married Population

Blacksburg21.5%
Downers Grove46.4%

Foreign Born

Blacksburg13.7%
Downers Grove9.9%

White

Blacksburg77.7%
Downers Grove84.4%

Black

Blacksburg4.4%
Downers Grove2.8%

Hispanic

Blacksburg4.5%
Downers Grove5.7%

Asian

Blacksburg11.0%
Downers Grove5.9%

Blacksburg

Downers Grove

Healthcare

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Blacksburg: 5 vs Downers Grove: 4 for with emergency services. Downers Grove: 4.0 vs Blacksburg: 3.6 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Blacksburg5
Downers Grove5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Blacksburg3.6
Downers Grove4.0

With Emergency Services

Blacksburg5
Downers Grove4

Transportation & Commute — Downers Grove leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Blacksburg has a bicycle of 2.9% compared to 0.1% in Downers Grove. Blacksburg: 13 min vs Downers Grove: 21 min for mean commute time. Downers Grove has a work from home of 23.2% compared to 17.2% in Blacksburg.

Mean Commute Time

Blacksburg13 min
Downers Grove21 min

Drive Alone

Blacksburg53.9%
Downers Grove61.9%

Public Transit

Blacksburg6.6%
Downers Grove7.8%

Bicycle

Blacksburg2.9%
Downers Grove0.1%

Work from Home

Blacksburg17.2%
Downers Grove23.2%

Airports

Blacksburg0
Downers Grove0

Cities Similar to Blacksburg, VA

Compare Blacksburg against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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