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Living in
Chicago Ridge.
About
Life in Chicago Ridge
If you're thinking about planting roots in Chicago Ridge, you're looking at a compact, family-oriented village just 18 miles southwest of the Loop where you'll get suburban calm without total isolation from the city. The commute downtown averages 31 minutes via the Metra SouthWest Service or Pace bus routes, which beats a lot of other suburban options if you need regular access to Chicago jobs. Housing density is significant at over 6,300 people per square mile, so this isn't sprawling—it's a tight-knit, walkable village of about 14,400 people where you'll actually recognize faces around town.
Chicago Ridge at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.4%
Foreign-Born
25.9%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.9% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Chicago Ridge: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chicago Ridge, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (15.2%), and 21.2% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.5%
of households
Married Couples
44.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.62
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 Chicago Ridge
In Chicago Ridge, home values are 14% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,374
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $249,629 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Chicago Ridge and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Chicago Ridge, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Chicago Ridge: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Chicago Ridge is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Chicago Ridge 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
Commute31.8 min avg
How Chicago Ridge residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chicago Ridge, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 41% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 20 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chicago Ridge runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
186.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,627
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chicago Ridge 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 Ridge, 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 Ridge 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 Ridge, 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 Ridge 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
Chicago Ridge 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 Chicago Ridge
Uninsured
11.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chicago Ridge's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Christ Hospital & Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Oak Lawn
Palos Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Palos Heights
Osf Little Company of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 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.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Chicago Ridge (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
13.4 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 · 14,090 students · in-state tuition $47,676 · 68% graduate · median earnings $75,602 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,368 students · in-state tuition $37,344 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,427 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,406 students · in-state tuition $13,020 · 46% graduate · median earnings $52,883 (10 yrs after entry)
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
14.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 24% graduate · median earnings $42,885 (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, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
36 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge Public Library
10400 Oxford Avenue, Chicago Ridge
Cities Near Chicago Ridge
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chicago Ridge?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chicago Ridge FAQ
Is Chicago Ridge, Illinois affordable?⌄
Chicago Ridge's median rent is $1,304/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $68,964/year. Median home value is $226,900.
Is Chicago Ridge, Illinois safe?⌄
Chicago Ridge's violent crime rate was 186 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 1627 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chicago Ridge, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Chicago Ridge, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chicago Ridge, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Chicago Ridge is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,304/month and median household income is $68,964/year. The median home value is $226,900. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chicago Ridge, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Chicago Ridge is 32 minutes, which is longer than 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