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Living in
Harvey.
About
Life in Harvey
This South Cook County city is a modest, working-class community where affordability is genuinely one of your biggest advantages—median home values hover around $88,100 and median rent sits at $968 a month, making it one of the more accessible places in the Chicago metro area if you're budget-conscious. The city's economy was built on heavy manufacturing (the Whiting Corporation, steel mills, and Sinclair Oil all had major operations here), and while that industrial backbone has shifted over decades, it still shapes the character of what's a densely urban area—all of Harvey's 6.21 square miles is classified as urban, so don't expect yards or quiet suburban sprawl. The community is family-oriented with about a third of households raising children, and you'll find a real neighborhood feel with locals who've stayed put through economic transitions; the median age is mid-30s, so it's a reasonably mixed demographic rather than retirement-heavy or college-town young.
Harvey at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.6%
Foreign-Born
21.9%
Broadband Internet
88.8%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Harvey: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Harvey, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (81.3%), and 34.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.3%
of households
Married Couples
29.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
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% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Harvey
In Harvey, rent runs 25% below the IL average, and home values are 67% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,628
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
23.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $107,308 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.6 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Harvey and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Harvey is 2.6 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Harvey 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
Commute30.1 min avg
How Harvey residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Harvey, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 29 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 173% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Harvey runs 173% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
899.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,293.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Harvey 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 Harvey, 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
Harvey is less than 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 Harvey, 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
Harvey is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Harvey has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.5"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 2.49" |
| Feb | 35°F | 18°F | 2.15" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.65" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.02" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.91" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.02" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 3.00" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.47" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Harvey
Harvey has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Ingalls Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Roseland Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Chicago
Franciscan Health Olympia & Chicago Heights
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Olympia Fields
Osf Little Company of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Evergreen Park
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.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Harvey
Harvey's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 10.9% 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
10.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Harvey (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (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)
Public · 4-year · 1,384 students · in-state tuition $13,358 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,395 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 820 students · in-state tuition $21,205 · 65% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
9.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 529 students · in-state tuition $24,820 · 47% graduate · median earnings $50,059 (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, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Harvey
Harvey has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
29 mi awayPublic Libraries in Harvey
Harvey Public Library District
15441 Turlington Avenue, Harvey
Cities Near Harvey
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Harvey?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Harvey FAQ
Is Harvey, Illinois affordable?⌄
Harvey's median rent is $960/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $42,429/year. Median home value is $88,100.
Is Harvey, Illinois safe?⌄
Harvey's violent crime rate was 900 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2293 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Harvey, Illinois?⌄
Harvey has an unemployment rate of 7.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Harvey, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Harvey is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $960/month and median household income is $42,429/year. The median home value is $88,100. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Harvey, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Harvey is 30 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