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Living in
Markham.
About
Life in Markham
Markham is a community of 11,434 people in Illinois. The median household income is $57,302, median rent runs about $1,621 per month, and median home values are around $135,300. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Markham at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.0%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Markham: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Markham, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (89.9%), and 14.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
27.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.09
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 27% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Markham
In Markham, rent runs 27% above the IL average, and home values are 49% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
76.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
52.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,683
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $155,675 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Markham and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Markham, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Markham: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Markham is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Markham 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
Commute35.7 min avg
How Markham residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Markham, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 44% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 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 51% above national average
Crime rates for 2020
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2020. It's compared with the national rate for 2020.
Violent crime in Markham runs 51% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
602.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (399 national, 2020)
Property Crime Rate
3,539.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,955 national, 2020)
Markham 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 Markham, 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
Markham 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 Markham, 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
Markham 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
Markham 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Markham
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Markham's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ingalls Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.7 mi away · Harvey
Franciscan Health Olympia & Chicago Heights
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Olympia Fields
Roseland Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Chicago
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.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Markham
Markham's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 17.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Markham (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
11.3 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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Markham
Markham has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
31 mi awayPublic Libraries in Markham
Markham Public Library
16640 South Kedzie Avenue, Markham
Cities Near Markham
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Markham?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Markham FAQ
Is Markham, Illinois affordable?⌄
Markham's median rent is $1,621/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $57,302/year. Median home value is $135,300.
Is Markham, Illinois safe?⌄
Markham's violent crime rate was 602 per 100,000 residents in 2020, which is above the national average of 399/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3540 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Markham, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Markham, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Markham, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Markham is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,621/month and median household income is $57,302/year. The median home value is $135,300. About 76% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Markham, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Markham is 36 minutes, which is longer than 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