© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Morris.
About
Life in Morris
Life in Morris is pleasantly affordable and manageable—a county seat of about 14,700 people that sits comfortably in the Chicago metropolitan orbit without the sprawl or stress. Your median home will run you around $247,000, and rent hovers near $1,141 a month, which means your paycheck stretches further than it would closer to the city; the median household income sits at $76,711, and the job market is steady with an unemployment rate around 4.7%, boosted by chemical manufacturing, nuclear power plants within 15 miles, and a diverse local economy that's been evolving since the paper mill days. The commute to better-paying jobs in Chicago averages just over 21 minutes, making it realistic to work elsewhere while keeping housing costs grounded.
Morris at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Foreign-Born
2.6%
Broadband Internet
90.5%
of households
Population Growth
+3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Morris: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Morris, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (66.1%), and 5.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.2%
of households
Married Couples
44.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.25
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 11% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Morris
In Morris, rent runs 11% below the IL average, and home values are 6% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,106
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $314,234 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Morris
Unemployment in Grundy County, which includes Morris, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Morris: Grundy County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Grundy County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Morris Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.5 min avg
How Morris residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Morris, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 46 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 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 54% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Morris runs 54% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
149.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,056.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Morris Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Grundy County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Grundy County, which includes Morris, the most common type is winter weather, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 9 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | Winter Weather | $300,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 14 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | Winter Weather | None reported |
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
Grundy County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Will County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Morris) is typically good — 225 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
225
per year
Moderate Days
135
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Will County, IL (24 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Morris has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.8"
Annual Snowfall
24.7"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
127
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 2.09" |
| Feb | 36°F | 19°F | 1.79" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 2.23" |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.34" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.39" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.72" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.92" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 4.01" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.55" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 3.23" |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 2.50" |
| Dec | 37°F | 22°F | 2.02" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Morris
Morris has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Morris
Morris's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Morris
Morris has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
47 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Morris
Morris Area Public Library District
604 Liberty Street, Morris
Cities Near Morris
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Morris?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Morris FAQ
Is Morris, Illinois affordable?⌄
Morris's median rent is $1,132/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $76,711/year. Median home value is $247,400.
Is Morris, Illinois safe?⌄
Morris's violent crime rate was 150 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 1056 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Morris, Illinois?⌄
Grundy County, which includes Morris, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Morris, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Morris is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,132/month and median household income is $76,711/year. The median home value is $247,400. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Morris, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Morris is 22 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