© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Niles.
About
Life in Niles
Living in Niles means being in a fully urban setting that's genuinely close to Chicago without actually being Chicago—you get the convenience of proximity without the density or price tag of the city proper. The median home value around $360,000 and median rent near $1,340 are reasonable for the Chicago area, though not cheap, and the median household income of $75,274 reflects a stable, middle-to-upper-middle-class community. This is an older, more established place—nearly 28% of residents are over 65, and about half of households are married couples, which shapes the feel: quieter than you'd expect for an urban area, with strong neighborhood cohesion.
Niles at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
48.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Foreign-Born
42.0%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics42.0% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Niles: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Niles, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (16.6%), and 14.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.6%
of residents
65 and Older
28.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.5%
of households
Married Couples
52.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
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 about average for IL
Rent, home values, and income in Niles
In Niles, home values are 36% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,118
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $417,723 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Niles and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Niles is 0.5 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 Niles 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
Commute28.3 min avg
How Niles residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Niles, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 89% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Niles runs 89% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
37.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,905.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Niles 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 Niles, 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
Niles 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 Niles, 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
Niles is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Niles has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.3"
Annual Snowfall
38.4"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 1.99" |
| Feb | 36°F | 22°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 47°F | 31°F | 2.45" |
| Apr | 59°F | 40°F | 3.75" |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 4.49" |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 3.71" |
| Aug | 83°F | 65°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 3.19" |
| Oct | 63°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.42" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Niles
Uninsured
9.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Niles's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Park Ridge
Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Chicago
Chicago Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.7 mi away · Des Plaines
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.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Niles
Niles's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Niles (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
13.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (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
12.9 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 · 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)
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, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Niles
Niles has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
46 mi awayPublic Libraries in Niles
Niles-Maine District Library
6960 Oakton Street, Niles
Cities Near Niles
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Niles?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Niles FAQ
Is Niles, Illinois affordable?⌄
Niles's median rent is $1,336/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $75,274/year. Median home value is $358,700.
Is Niles, Illinois safe?⌄
Niles's violent crime rate was 37 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 1905 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Niles, Illinois?⌄
Niles has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Niles, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Niles is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,336/month and median household income is $75,274/year. The median home value is $358,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Niles, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Niles 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