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Living in
Hickory Hills.
About
Life in Hickory Hills
Hickory Hills is a solidly middle-class southwest suburb of Chicago where you'll find a real sense of community—about 53% of households are married couples with kids, and people genuinely tend to stay. The median household income hovers around $77,262, and homes average $288,000, which is reasonable for the Chicago area, though you're still looking at the tax burden that comes with Cook County and suburban Illinois living. Your commute to downtown Chicago or jobs in the surrounding area averages just over 30 minutes, and you're sandwiched conveniently between Interstate 294 and U.S.
Hickory Hills at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Foreign-Born
31.2%
Broadband Internet
89.9%
of households
Population Growth
-2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.2% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Hickory Hills: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hickory Hills, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (35.7%), and 19.4% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
25.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
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 10% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Hickory Hills
In Hickory Hills, rent runs 10% below the IL average, and home values are 9% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,715
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $343,977 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Hickory Hills and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Hickory Hills, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Hickory Hills: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Hickory Hills is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Hickory Hills 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
Commute29.9 min avg
How Hickory Hills residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hickory Hills, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 18 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 76% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Hickory Hills runs 76% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
87.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
1,036.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Hickory Hills 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 Hickory Hills, 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
Hickory Hills 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 Hickory Hills, 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
Hickory Hills is less than 1% of Cook 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
Hickory Hills 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
38.7"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
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 Hickory Hills
Uninsured
10.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hickory Hills's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Palos Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Palos Heights
Advocate Christ Hospital & Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Oak Lawn
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 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.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hickory Hills
Hickory Hills's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hickory Hills (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
13.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 14,090 students · in-state tuition $47,676 · 68% graduate · median earnings $75,602 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,368 students · in-state tuition $37,344 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,427 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,406 students · in-state tuition $13,020 · 46% graduate · median earnings $52,883 (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, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hickory Hills
Hickory Hills has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
38 mi awayCities Near Hickory Hills
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hickory Hills?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hickory Hills FAQ
Is Hickory Hills, Illinois affordable?⌄
Hickory Hills's median rent is $1,145/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,262/year. Median home value is $288,000.
Is Hickory Hills, Illinois safe?⌄
Hickory Hills's violent crime rate was 88 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1037 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hickory Hills, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Hickory Hills, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hickory Hills, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Hickory Hills is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,145/month and median household income is $77,262/year. The median home value is $288,000. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hickory Hills, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Hickory Hills 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