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Living in
Chicago Heights.
About
Life in Chicago Heights
If you're looking at Chicago Heights as a place to actually live, you're looking at an affordable South Cook County suburb with a median home price about $160,000 and median household income around $54,798. The city has real diversity—both racially and in terms of language—which shapes the neighborhood character. The tradeoff is that it's genuinely car-dependent; you're about 30 miles from the Loop, and with an average commute over 30 minutes, you'll need reliable transportation.
Chicago Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.9%
Foreign-Born
14.7%
Broadband Internet
87.5%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Chicago Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chicago Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (74.1%), and 26.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.2%
of residents
65 and Older
14.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.0%
of households
Married Couples
34.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.81
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 19% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Chicago Heights
In Chicago Heights, rent runs 19% below the IL average, and home values are 39% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,248
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $174,560 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.9 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Chicago Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Chicago Heights is 2.9 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 Chicago Heights 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
Commute30.1 min avg
How Chicago Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chicago Heights, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 35 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 143% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chicago Heights runs 143% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
801.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,973.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chicago Heights 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 Chicago Heights, 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
Chicago Heights 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 Chicago Heights, 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
Chicago Heights is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chicago Heights has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.1"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 2.49" |
| Feb | 35°F | 18°F | 2.15" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.65" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.02" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.91" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.02" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 3.00" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.47" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chicago Heights
Uninsured
11.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chicago Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Franciscan Health Olympia & Chicago Heights
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Olympia Fields
Franciscan Health Dyer
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Dyer
Franciscan Health Munster
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Munster
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.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chicago Heights
Chicago Heights's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Chicago Heights (within 15 miles)
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)
Public · 4-year · 1,384 students · in-state tuition $13,358 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,395 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 820 students · in-state tuition $21,205 · 65% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
13.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 200 students · in-state tuition $17,900 · 73% graduate · median earnings $46,609 (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, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chicago Heights
Chicago Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
29 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chicago Heights
Chicago Heights Public Library
25 West Fifteenth Street, Chicago Heights
Cities Near Chicago Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chicago Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chicago Heights FAQ
Is Chicago Heights, Illinois affordable?⌄
Chicago Heights's median rent is $1,038/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,798/year. Median home value is $161,000.
Is Chicago Heights, Illinois safe?⌄
Chicago Heights's violent crime rate was 801 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2974 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chicago Heights, Illinois?⌄
Chicago Heights has an unemployment rate of 7.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chicago Heights, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Chicago Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,038/month and median household income is $54,798/year. The median home value is $161,000. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chicago Heights, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Chicago Heights is 30 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