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Living in
Highland Park.
About
Life in Highland Park
If you're seriously considering Highland Park, understand upfront that you're looking at one of Chicago's most expensive North Shore communities—median home values around $607,000 and rents near $1,900 monthly reflect that reality. That said, you get genuine value: excellent public schools, Lake Michigan beach access at three public beaches, and a 28-minute average commute to downtown via four Metra stations. The community has real character—Frank Lloyd Wright homes, the Ravinia Festival (summer concerts on the lawn are a genuine draw), and tree-lined neighborhoods with actual architecture rather than generic subdivisions.
Highland Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
10.5%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Highland Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Highland Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.4%), and 8.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
24.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.5%
of households
Married Couples
65.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
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 51% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Highland Park
In Highland Park, rent runs 51% above the IL average, and home values are 131% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
83.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $801,914 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Highland Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Highland Park 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 Highland Park 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
Commute27.5 min avg
How Highland Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highland Park, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 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 83% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Highland Park runs 83% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
54.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
746.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Highland Park Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Highland Park, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $70,000 |
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
Lake County, county-wide
Highland Park is about 4% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Highland Park, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Highland Park is about 4% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Highland Park has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
33.6"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
130
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 2.10" |
| Feb | 36°F | 19°F | 1.98" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.26" |
| Apr | 57°F | 38°F | 4.00" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.84" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.31" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.74" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.16" |
| Sep | 75°F | 55°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.59" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.63" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 2.34" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Highland Park
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Highland Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Lake Forest
North Chicago VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 9.1 mi away · North Chicago
Advocate Condell Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Libertyville
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.
Education12.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highland Park
Highland Park's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 76.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
76.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Highland Park (within 15 miles)
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)
Northeastern Illinois University
14.7 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 · 1,813 students · in-state tuition $58,902 · 76% graduate · median earnings $70,470 (10 yrs after entry)
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
6.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 183 students · in-state tuition $20,500 · 88% graduate · median earnings $61,393 (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, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highland Park
Highland Park has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
35 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
53 mi awayPublic Libraries in Highland Park
Highland Park Public Library
494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park
Cities Near Highland Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Highland Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Highland Park FAQ
Is Highland Park, Illinois affordable?⌄
Highland Park's median rent is $1,925/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $168,094/year. Median home value is $607,300.
Is Highland Park, Illinois safe?⌄
Highland Park's violent crime rate was 55 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 746 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highland Park, Illinois?⌄
Highland Park has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highland Park, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Highland Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,925/month and median household income is $168,094/year. The median home value is $607,300. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highland Park, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Highland Park 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