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Living in
Blue Island.
About
Life in Blue Island
Blue Island is a community of 23,416 people in Illinois. The median household income is $59,489, median rent runs about $1,071 per month, and median home values are around $178,700. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Blue Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
22.0%
Broadband Internet
89.6%
of households
Population Growth
-3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Blue Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Blue Island, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (84.8%), and 37.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.6%
of households
Married Couples
32.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
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 16% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Blue Island
In Blue Island, rent runs 16% below the IL average, and home values are 32% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,550
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $207,855 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Blue Island and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Blue Island, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Blue Island: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Blue Island is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Blue Island 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
Commute29 min avg
How Blue Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Blue Island, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 25 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 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Blue Island runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
291.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,088.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Blue Island 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 Blue Island, 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
Blue Island 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 Blue Island, 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
Blue Island is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Blue Island has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 20°F | 2.30" |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 2.12" |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 2.66" |
| Apr | 60°F | 42°F | 4.15" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.75" |
| Jun | 81°F | 63°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 4.02" |
| Aug | 83°F | 67°F | 4.10" |
| Sep | 77°F | 59°F | 3.33" |
| Oct | 64°F | 47°F | 3.86" |
| Nov | 50°F | 35°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 2.33" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Blue Island
Uninsured
13.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Blue Island's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ingalls Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Harvey
Roseland Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Chicago
Osf Little Company of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Evergreen Park
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Blue Island
Blue Island's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Blue Island (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
14.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,096 students · in-state tuition $39,080 · 62% graduate · median earnings $64,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Illinois Institute of Technology
12.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,833 students · in-state tuition $53,398 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,804 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,640 students · in-state tuition $5,662 · 30% graduate · median earnings $47,728 (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, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Blue Island
Blue Island has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
30 mi awayPublic Libraries in Blue Island
Blue Island Public Library
2433 York Street, Blue Island
Cities Near Blue Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Blue Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Blue Island FAQ
Is Blue Island, Illinois affordable?⌄
Blue Island's median rent is $1,072/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,489/year. Median home value is $178,700.
Is Blue Island, Illinois safe?⌄
Blue Island's violent crime rate was 291 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2088 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Blue Island, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Blue Island, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Blue Island, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Blue Island is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,072/month and median household income is $59,489/year. The median home value is $178,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Blue Island, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Blue Island is 29 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