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Living in
Darien.
About
Life in Darien
Darien feels like a comfortable, established suburb where people actually stay put—it's got an older demographic (median age 47.7) and strong family roots, which means the community tends to be stable and service-oriented rather than transient. The median household income sits at a solid $111,215, and with a median home value around $398,700, you're looking at a pricey real estate market typical of southwest Chicago suburbs, though it's considerably less than closer-in areas. If you're remote or working downtown, the 29.5-minute average commute is reasonable given that you have quick access to I-55, I-355, and I-294, making it genuinely viable to work in the city while living here.
Darien at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
19.5%
Broadband Internet
96.1%
of households
Population Growth
-0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.5% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Darien: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Darien, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (15.8%), and 7.2% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.8%
of residents
65 and Older
24.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
55.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.50
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 46% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Darien
In Darien, rent runs 46% above the IL average, and home values are 51% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,119
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $456,310 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Darien and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in DuPage County, which includes Darien, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Darien: DuPage County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
DuPage County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Darien is about 2% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Darien 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
Commute28.7 min avg
How Darien residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Darien, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 16 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 96% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Darien runs 96% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
13.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
726.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Darien Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
DuPage County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In DuPage County, which includes Darien, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2024 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2022 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 18 | Flood | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $560,000 |
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
DuPage County, county-wide
Darien is about 2% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in DuPage County, which includes Darien, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
DuPage County, county-wide
Darien is about 2% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Darien has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
24.3"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 2.30" |
| Feb | 37°F | 18°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 49°F | 28°F | 2.50" |
| Apr | 62°F | 39°F | 4.14" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.98" |
| Jun | 84°F | 60°F | 4.65" |
| Jul | 90°F | 64°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 87°F | 63°F | 4.46" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 3.68" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.40" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Darien
Uninsured
7.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Darien's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Hinsdale
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Downers Grove
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · La Grange
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.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Darien
Darien's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 52.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Darien (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
14.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 14,027 students · in-state tuition $22,243 · 75% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
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 · 3,096 students · in-state tuition $39,080 · 62% graduate · median earnings $64,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,006 students · in-state tuition $45,858 · 72% graduate · median earnings $67,398 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,640 students · in-state tuition $5,662 · 30% graduate · median earnings $47,728 (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, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Darien
Darien has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
46 mi awayPublic Libraries in Darien
Indian Prairie Public Library District
401 Plainfield Road, Darien
Cities Near Darien
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Darien?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Darien FAQ
Is Darien, Illinois affordable?⌄
Darien's median rent is $1,857/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $111,215/year. Median home value is $398,700.
Is Darien, Illinois safe?⌄
Darien's violent crime rate was 14 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 727 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Darien, Illinois?⌄
DuPage County, which includes Darien, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Darien, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Darien is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,857/month and median household income is $111,215/year. The median home value is $398,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Darien, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Darien 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