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Living in
Carpentersville.
About
Life in Carpentersville
If you're considering Carpentersville, you're looking at a solid middle-class suburb with reasonable housing costs compared to closer-in Chicago areas and a strong Latino community presence. The median home price around $234,000 and median rent at $1,420 are accessible, and the median household income of $86,327 suggests stable employment in the area. Your commute would average about 30 minutes, which is manageable for Chicago-area standards, and Pace bus service connects you to Elgin, Crystal Lake, and other regional hubs if you prefer not to drive.
Carpentersville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
30.2%
Broadband Internet
91.7%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Carpentersville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Carpentersville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (72.4%), and 49.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.2%
of residents
65 and Older
9.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.8%
of households
Married Couples
53.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.22
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 11% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Carpentersville
In Carpentersville, rent runs 11% above the IL average, and home values are 11% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,270
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $296,160 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Carpentersville
Unemployment in Carpentersville is 1.4 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Carpentersville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.2 min avg
How Carpentersville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Carpentersville, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 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 46% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Carpentersville runs 46% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
178.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
679.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Carpentersville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kane County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kane County, which includes Carpentersville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16,500 |
| 2024 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $700,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Hail | $250,000 |
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
Kane County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kane County, which includes Carpentersville, is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
130
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Kane County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Carpentersville has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
32.1"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 14°F | 2.02" |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 1.87" |
| Mar | 46°F | 26°F | 2.37" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.96" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 5.12" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.46" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.98" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 4.33" |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.53" |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 3.31" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.68" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 2.22" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Carpentersville
Uninsured
10.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Carpentersville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Elgin
Saint Joseph Hospital-elgin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Elgin
Elgin Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Elgin
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 Carpentersville
Carpentersville's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.3%
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 Carpentersville (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 708 students · in-state tuition $31,810 · 50% graduate · median earnings $59,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 123 students · 57% graduate · median earnings $67,642 (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, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Carpentersville
Carpentersville has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
46 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
70 mi awayCities Near Carpentersville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Carpentersville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Carpentersville FAQ
Is Carpentersville, Illinois affordable?⌄
Carpentersville's median rent is $1,414/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $86,917/year. Median home value is $234,100.
Is Carpentersville, Illinois safe?⌄
Carpentersville's violent crime rate was 179 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 679 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Carpentersville, Illinois?⌄
Carpentersville has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Carpentersville, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Carpentersville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,414/month and median household income is $86,917/year. The median home value is $234,100. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Carpentersville, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Carpentersville 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