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Living in
Lake Zurich.
About
Life in Lake Zurich
This is a solidly affluent Chicago suburb where you're paying for stability and good schools, not cutting-edge culture. You're looking at a mature community with a median age of 41 and nearly two-thirds married-couple households, which shapes everything from the vibe to weekend activities. The lake itself gives the village some character and weekend recreation, though major attractions like the Indiana Dunes (64 miles) mean road trips for more serious outdoor adventures.
Lake Zurich at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Foreign-Born
15.8%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.8% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Lake Zurich: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Zurich, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (15.2%), and 7.8% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.1%
of households
Married Couples
65.0%
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 50% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Zurich
In Lake Zurich, rent runs 50% above the IL average, and home values are 65% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,217
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $503,277 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Lake Zurich and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Lake Zurich, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Lake Zurich: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lake Zurich is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lake Zurich 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
Commute27.6 min avg
How Lake Zurich residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Zurich, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 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 79% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake Zurich runs 79% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
70
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
929.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake Zurich 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 Lake Zurich, 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
Lake Zurich is about 3% 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 Lake Zurich, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Lake Zurich is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Zurich has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
43.1"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
140
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 14°F | 1.76" |
| Feb | 33°F | 16°F | 1.93" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 2.49" |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 3.95" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 4.38" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.19" |
| Sep | 74°F | 53°F | 3.38" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 3.20" |
| Nov | 47°F | 30°F | 2.47" |
| Dec | 34°F | 20°F | 2.12" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Zurich
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Zurich's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Barrington
Advocate Condell Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Libertyville
Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hlth Hosp
Psychiatric · 10.1 mi away · Hoffman Estates
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.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 60.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
60.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Zurich (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,813 students · in-state tuition $58,902 · 76% graduate · median earnings $70,470 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 708 students · in-state tuition $31,810 · 50% graduate · median earnings $59,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
8.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 183 students · in-state tuition $20,500 · 88% graduate · median earnings $61,393 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 123 students · 57% graduate · median earnings $67,642 (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, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
64 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Zurich
Ela Area Public Library District
275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich
Cities Near Lake Zurich
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Zurich?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Zurich FAQ
Is Lake Zurich, Illinois affordable?⌄
Lake Zurich's median rent is $1,909/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $135,968/year. Median home value is $435,300.
Is Lake Zurich, Illinois safe?⌄
Lake Zurich's violent crime rate was 70 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 930 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Zurich, Illinois?⌄
Lake County, which includes Lake Zurich, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Zurich, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Zurich is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,909/month and median household income is $135,968/year. The median home value is $435,300. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Zurich, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Lake Zurich 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