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Living in
Glendale Heights.
About
Life in Glendale Heights
Life in Glendale Heights means committing to suburban living with a 25-minute average commute, though you'll get a solid median household income of $87,000 and relatively affordable housing compared to many Chicago-area communities—median homes around $262,000 and rentals averaging $1,562 monthly. The village itself is entirely residential and densely packed at 6,000+ people per square mile, so don't expect much in the way of neighborhood walkability or local attractions; most amenities and entertainment will require a car trip elsewhere. The community skews family-oriented with about a third of households raising children and a median age just under 36, creating a stable if quiet residential environment.
Glendale Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
37.9%
Broadband Internet
95.2%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics37.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Glendale Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Glendale Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.1%), and 26.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.93
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 25% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Glendale Heights
In Glendale Heights, rent runs 25% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,425
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $324,432 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Glendale Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Glendale Heights is 0.5 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 Glendale Heights 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
Commute26.7 min avg
How Glendale Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Glendale Heights, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Glendale Heights runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
103.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
740.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Glendale Heights 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 Glendale Heights, 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
Glendale Heights is about 4% 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 Glendale Heights, 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
Glendale Heights is about 4% 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
Glendale Heights 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
40.1"
Annual Snowfall
24.3"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Glendale Heights
Glendale Heights has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Winfield
Alexian Brothers Medical Center 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Elk Grove Village
Bhc Streamwood Hospital Inc.
Psychiatric · 7.2 mi away · Streamwood
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.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Glendale Heights
Glendale Heights's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Glendale Heights (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
2.9 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)
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, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Glendale Heights
Glendale Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
29 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in Glendale Heights
Glenside Public Library District
25 East Fullerton Avenue, Glendale Heights
Cities Near Glendale Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Glendale Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Glendale Heights FAQ
Is Glendale Heights, Illinois affordable?⌄
Glendale Heights's median rent is $1,590/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $86,545/year. Median home value is $261,700.
Is Glendale Heights, Illinois safe?⌄
Glendale Heights's violent crime rate was 104 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 741 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Glendale Heights, Illinois?⌄
Glendale Heights has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Glendale Heights, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Glendale Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,590/month and median household income is $86,545/year. The median home value is $261,700. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Glendale Heights, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Glendale Heights is 27 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