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Living in
Crest Hill.
About
Life in Crest Hill
This small Will County city of around 20,000 has the feel of a place that chose independence deliberately—it incorporated specifically to stay separate from Joliet back in 1960, and that self-directed streak still shapes the community today. The cost of living here is genuinely reasonable compared to Chicago suburbs; the median home value sits around $232,900 and rent averages $1,481 monthly, which means you're getting actual breathing room financially without sacrificing proximity to job markets and urban amenities. The job market is solid with unemployment at 4.6%, and your commute to better-paying work in Joliet or beyond typically runs under 30 minutes, though you'll absolutely need a car—this is car-dependent suburban Illinois, and public transit via Pace bus is limited to a few connecting routes.
Crest Hill at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
12.3%
Broadband Internet
90.0%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Crest Hill: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Crest Hill, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (28.6%), and 17.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.4%
of residents
65 and Older
18.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.8%
of households
Married Couples
33.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.25
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% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Crest Hill
In Crest Hill, rent runs 16% above the IL average, and home values are 12% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,663
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $285,589 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Crest Hill and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Will County, which includes Crest Hill, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Crest Hill: Will County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Will County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Crest Hill is about 3% of Will County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Crest Hill 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
Commute28 min avg
How Crest Hill residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Crest Hill, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 31 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 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Crest Hill runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
138.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
669.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Crest Hill Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 39 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Will County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Will County, which includes Crest Hill, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 39 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.3M |
| 2024 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $250,000 |
| 2023 | 24 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $33,000 |
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
Will County, county-wide
Crest Hill is about 3% of Will County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Will County, which includes Crest Hill, is typically good — 225 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
225
per year
Moderate Days
135
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Will County, county-wide
Crest Hill is about 3% of Will County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Crest Hill has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.1"
Annual Snowfall
33.2"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
123
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 2.19" |
| Feb | 36°F | 20°F | 1.98" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.71" |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 4.11" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 4.81" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 4.68" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.50" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.36" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.31" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 3.67" |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 2.67" |
| Dec | 37°F | 22°F | 2.15" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Crest Hill
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Crest Hill's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Joliet
Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 6.8 mi away · New Lenox
Silver Cross Hospital and Medical Centers
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · New Lenox
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.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Crest Hill
Crest Hill's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Crest Hill (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,015 students · in-state tuition $40,700 · 64% graduate · median earnings $59,389 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,428 students · in-state tuition $47,340 · 72% graduate · median earnings $65,646 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,942 students · in-state tuition $37,650 · 60% graduate · median earnings $67,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,223 students · in-state tuition $38,900 · 71% graduate · median earnings $69,137 (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, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Crest Hill
Crest Hill has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
27 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
53 mi awayPublic Libraries in Crest Hill
Crest Hill Branch
20670 City Center Boulevard, Crest Hill
Cities Near Crest Hill
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Crest Hill?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Crest Hill FAQ
Is Crest Hill, Illinois affordable?⌄
Crest Hill's median rent is $1,481/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,033/year. Median home value is $232,900.
Is Crest Hill, Illinois safe?⌄
Crest Hill's violent crime rate was 139 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 669 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Crest Hill, Illinois?⌄
Will County, which includes Crest Hill, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Crest Hill, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Crest Hill is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,481/month and median household income is $73,033/year. The median home value is $232,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Crest Hill, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Crest Hill 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