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Living in
La Grange.
About
Life in La Grange
Living in La Grange means joining a stable, affluent suburban community just 13 miles west of Chicago where you're paying premium prices but getting genuine walkability and a strong sense of place in return. The median household income here hovers around $155,000, and homes run roughly $580,000, so this is decidedly upper-middle-class territory—nearly two-thirds of residents hold college degrees and the poverty rate is negligible. The tradeoff is that you're banking on the commute: most residents face a 30-minute trek to jobs (often downtown Chicago), though the BNSF and CSX rail lines running through town do give you a legitimate public transit option if you're willing to use it.
La Grange at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Foreign-Born
6.2%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
-2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in La Grange: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In La Grange, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (29.2%), and 7.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.5%
of households
Married Couples
64.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.71
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 46% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in La Grange
In La Grange, rent runs 46% above the IL average, and home values are 126% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
81.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1953
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $674,973 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in La Grange and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes La Grange, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
La Grange: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
La Grange is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What La Grange 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
Commute28.5 min avg
How La Grange residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In La Grange, most residents drive alone to work (55%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 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 77% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in La Grange runs 77% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
75.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
662.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
La Grange 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 La Grange, 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
La Grange 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 La Grange, 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
La Grange is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
La Grange has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.1"
Annual Snowfall
42.3"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
106
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 1.48" |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 1.46" |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 1.88" |
| Apr | 60°F | 41°F | 3.57" |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 4.09" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 4.01" |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 3.55" |
| Aug | 83°F | 66°F | 3.99" |
| Sep | 76°F | 59°F | 2.77" |
| Oct | 63°F | 47°F | 3.48" |
| Nov | 49°F | 35°F | 2.35" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 1.79" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in La Grange
La Grange has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Hinsdale
Hines VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Hines
Loyola University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Maywood
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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in La Grange
La Grange's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 67.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
67.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near La Grange (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
12.3 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)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
13 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 · 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)
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, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for La Grange
La Grange has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
42 mi awayPublic Libraries in La Grange
Lagrange Public Library
10 West Cossitt Avenue, La Grange
Cities Near La Grange
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to La Grange?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
La Grange FAQ
Is La Grange, Illinois affordable?⌄
La Grange's median rent is $1,856/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $159,929/year. Median home value is $594,300.
Is La Grange, Illinois safe?⌄
La Grange's violent crime rate was 76 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 662 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in La Grange, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes La Grange, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in La Grange, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in La Grange is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,856/month and median household income is $159,929/year. The median home value is $594,300. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in La Grange, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in La Grange 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