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Living in
Des Plaines.
About
Life in Des Plaines
If you're considering Des Plaines, understand that you're choosing a mature suburban community with solid economic fundamentals but real climate trade-offs and car dependency. Your median household income will be around $97,875, and homes run roughly $336,000, making it accessible compared to many Chicago suburbs—though rent averages $1,606 monthly if you're not buying. Employment is reasonably diverse with Oakton Community College, Holy Family Medical Center, Rivers Casino, and food services companies anchoring the local economy, plus you're positioned for easy access to Chicago jobs via I-90 and I-294, though your commute will average 28 minutes.
Des Plaines at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
34.2%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics34.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Des Plaines: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Des Plaines, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.8%), and 17.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
20.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.1%
of households
Married Couples
54.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.58
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 26% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Des Plaines
In Des Plaines, rent runs 26% above the IL average, and home values are 27% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,344
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $356,247 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Des Plaines and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Des Plaines is 0.4 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Des Plaines 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
Commute28.2 min avg
How Des Plaines residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Des Plaines, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 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 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Des Plaines runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
107.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
792.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines, 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
Des Plaines is about 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 Des Plaines, 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
Des Plaines is about 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Des Plaines has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.7"
Annual Snowfall
38.4"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 1.99" |
| Feb | 36°F | 22°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 47°F | 31°F | 2.45" |
| Apr | 59°F | 40°F | 3.75" |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 4.49" |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 3.71" |
| Aug | 83°F | 65°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 3.19" |
| Oct | 63°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.42" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.11" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Des Plaines
Des Plaines has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Chicago Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Park Ridge
Northwest Community Hospital 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.2 mi away · Arlington Heights
Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 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.
Education11.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Des Plaines
Des Plaines's student/teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Des Plaines (within 15 miles)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
9.2 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 · 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)
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
7.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,372 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 27% graduate · median earnings $47,007 (10 yrs after entry)
Northeastern Illinois University
10.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 3,982 students · in-state tuition $12,743 · 45% graduate · median earnings $56,278 (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)
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, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Des Plaines
Des Plaines has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
50 mi awayPublic Libraries in Des Plaines
Des Plaines Public Library
1501 Ellinwood Street, Des Plaines
Cities Near Des Plaines
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Des Plaines?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Des Plaines FAQ
Is Des Plaines, Illinois affordable?⌄
Des Plaines's median rent is $1,606/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $97,875/year. Median home value is $335,600.
Is Des Plaines, Illinois safe?⌄
Des Plaines's violent crime rate was 108 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 792 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Des Plaines, Illinois?⌄
Des Plaines has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Des Plaines, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Des Plaines is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,606/month and median household income is $97,875/year. The median home value is $335,600. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Des Plaines, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Des Plaines 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