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Living in
Glen Ellyn.
About
Life in Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn feels like a quintessential Chicago suburb for the well-established — tree-lined streets, good schools, and neighbors with advanced degrees. If you're counting on affordability, this isn't the place; if you're settling in after career success, it likely is. The Metra Union Pacific West Line gets you downtown Chicago in roughly 40 minutes, which is genuinely doable for commuters, though most residents probably have 29-minute average commutes locally.
Glen Ellyn at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Foreign-Born
11.9%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Glen Ellyn: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Glen Ellyn, the largest foreign-born group is from India (19.8%), and 6.1% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
26.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.3%
of households
Married Couples
63.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.64
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 12% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Glen Ellyn
In Glen Ellyn, rent runs 12% above the IL average, and home values are 107% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
78.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $572,252 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Glen Ellyn and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Glen Ellyn is 0.7 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 Glen Ellyn 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
Commute29.1 min avg
How Glen Ellyn residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Glen Ellyn, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 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 88% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Glen Ellyn runs 88% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
38.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
478.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Glen Ellyn 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 Glen Ellyn, 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
Glen Ellyn is about 3% 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 Glen Ellyn, 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
Glen Ellyn is about 3% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Glen Ellyn has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
24.3"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 15°F | 2.19" |
| Feb | 35°F | 18°F | 1.96" |
| Mar | 47°F | 26°F | 2.36" |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 3.82" |
| May | 71°F | 47°F | 4.79" |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 4.43" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.25" |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 4.35" |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 3.36" |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 3.58" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.77" |
| Dec | 37°F | 21°F | 2.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Glen Ellyn
Uninsured
2.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Glen Ellyn's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Glendale Heights
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Downers Grove
Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Winfield
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 68.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
68.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Glen Ellyn
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
5.9 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 · 3,006 students · in-state tuition $45,858 · 72% graduate · median earnings $67,398 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,561 students · in-state tuition $40,608 · 64% graduate · median earnings $66,693 (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 · 2,121 students · in-state tuition $47,770 · 88% graduate · median earnings $68,390 (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)
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, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
26 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
52 mi awayPublic Libraries in Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn Public Library
400 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn
Cities Near Glen Ellyn
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Glen Ellyn?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Glen Ellyn FAQ
Is Glen Ellyn, Illinois affordable?⌄
Glen Ellyn's median rent is $1,433/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $140,938/year. Median home value is $544,000.
Is Glen Ellyn, Illinois safe?⌄
Glen Ellyn's violent crime rate was 38 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 478 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Glen Ellyn, Illinois?⌄
Glen Ellyn has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Glen Ellyn, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Glen Ellyn is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,433/month and median household income is $140,938/year. The median home value is $544,000. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Glen Ellyn, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Glen Ellyn 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