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Living in
Bellwood.
About
Life in Bellwood
If you're considering the western suburbs of Chicago, Bellwood offers an accessible entry point to the region without the intensity of city living. Just 13 miles from downtown, it's compact—only 2.4 square miles—which means you're never far from neighbors, schools, or local spots, though it also means higher density living with about 7,800 people per square mile. The median household income sits around $80,000, and homes average $230,000, making it genuinely more affordable than many surrounding suburbs while still offering that suburban stability; rent runs about $1,293 a month if you're leaning toward renting first.
Bellwood at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Foreign-Born
11.5%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bellwood: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bellwood, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (71.4%), and 23.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.7%
of households
Married Couples
40.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.05
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IL
Rent, home values, and income in Bellwood
In Bellwood, home values are 13% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,866
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $257,763 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Bellwood and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Bellwood, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Bellwood: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Bellwood is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Bellwood Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute27.8 min avg
How Bellwood residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bellwood, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 21% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bellwood runs 21% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
261.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,028.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bellwood Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 55 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cook County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cook County, which includes Bellwood, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 55 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55 | Flood | $494.9M |
| 2024 | 57 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $550.0M |
| 2022 | 51 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2021 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cook County, county-wide
Bellwood is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cook County, which includes Bellwood, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
149
per year
Moderate Days
191
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Cook County, county-wide
Bellwood is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bellwood has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.6"
Annual Snowfall
42.3"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 1.99" |
| Feb | 36°F | 22°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 47°F | 31°F | 2.45" |
| Apr | 59°F | 40°F | 3.75" |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 4.49" |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 3.71" |
| Aug | 83°F | 65°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 3.19" |
| Oct | 63°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.42" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bellwood
Uninsured
8.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bellwood's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Melrose Park
Loyola University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Maywood
Hines VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Hines
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bellwood
Bellwood's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bellwood (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
11.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 14,090 students · in-state tuition $47,676 · 68% graduate · median earnings $75,602 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
9.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 14,027 students · in-state tuition $22,243 · 75% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,737 students · in-state tuition $56,060 · 72% graduate · median earnings $78,431 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,368 students · in-state tuition $37,344 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,427 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bellwood
Bellwood has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
44 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bellwood
Bellwood Public Library
600 Bohland Avenue, Bellwood
Cities Near Bellwood
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bellwood?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bellwood FAQ
Is Bellwood, Illinois affordable?⌄
Bellwood's median rent is $1,293/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $79,513/year. Median home value is $230,000.
Is Bellwood, Illinois safe?⌄
Bellwood's violent crime rate was 261 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1028 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bellwood, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Bellwood, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bellwood, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Bellwood is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,293/month and median household income is $79,513/year. The median home value is $230,000. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bellwood, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Bellwood is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from