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Living in
Cicero.
About
Life in Cicero
Living in Cicero means joining a tightly knit, predominantly Latino community that has shaped the town's identity and culture for generations. The cost of living is relatively accessible—median home values around $249,000 and median rent at $1,154 per month are reasonable for the Chicago metro area—though the median household income of $70,842 shows this is a working-class town where most people are solidly employed rather than affluent. The commute to downtown Chicago or other job centers averages around 30 minutes, which is typical for inner-ring suburbs.
Cicero at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
40.6%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
-4.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics40.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Cicero: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cicero, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (89.2%), and 78.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.6%
of households
Married Couples
46.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.36
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 9% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Cicero
In Cicero, rent runs 9% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,465
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
6.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $278,173 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Cicero and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cicero is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Cicero 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
Commute29.3 min avg
How Cicero residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cicero, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 12 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 32% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cicero runs 32% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
222.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,014.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cicero 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 Cicero, 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
Cicero is about 2% 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 Cicero, 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
Cicero is about 2% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cicero has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.7"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
106
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 1.48" |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 1.46" |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 1.88" |
| Apr | 60°F | 41°F | 3.57" |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 4.09" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 4.01" |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 3.55" |
| Aug | 83°F | 66°F | 3.99" |
| Sep | 76°F | 59°F | 2.77" |
| Oct | 63°F | 47°F | 3.48" |
| Nov | 49°F | 35°F | 2.35" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 1.79" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cicero
Uninsured
20.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cicero's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Hartgrove Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 1.5 mi away · Chicago
Macneal Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Berwyn
Loretto Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2 mi away · Chicago
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.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cicero
Cicero's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Cicero
Public · 2-year · 2,640 students · in-state tuition $5,662 · 30% graduate · median earnings $47,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
5.9 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 · 14,090 students · in-state tuition $47,676 · 68% graduate · median earnings $75,602 (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 · 9,201 students · in-state tuition $70,589 · 97% graduate · median earnings $104,255 (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)
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 Cicero
Cicero 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
37 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cicero
Cicero Public Library
5225 West Cermak Road, Cicero
Cities Near Cicero
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cicero?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cicero FAQ
Is Cicero, Illinois affordable?⌄
Cicero's median rent is $1,154/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,842/year. Median home value is $249,400.
Is Cicero, Illinois safe?⌄
Cicero's violent crime rate was 222 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1015 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cicero, Illinois?⌄
Cicero has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cicero, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Cicero is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,154/month and median household income is $70,842/year. The median home value is $249,400. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cicero, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Cicero 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