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Living in
North Chicago.
About
Life in North Chicago
Living in North Chicago means choosing a compact, working-class suburb with real military and institutional presence—this isn't a bedroom community pretending to be something else. The Great Lakes Naval Training Center and the medical university shape the local economy and culture in tangible ways; you'll notice military families and student populations as part of the everyday fabric. Housing is genuinely affordable compared to most of the Chicago metro, with median home values about $160,000 and rents around $1,400, which matters if you're budget-conscious.
North Chicago at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
23.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.5%
Foreign-Born
19.2%
Broadband Internet
86.7%
of households
Population Growth
+10.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in North Chicago: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Chicago, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (56.9%), and 31.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.2%
of residents
65 and Older
6.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.5%
of households
Married Couples
34.0%
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 12% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in North Chicago
In North Chicago, rent runs 12% above the IL average, and home values are 39% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,969
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
32.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $223,901 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above IL average
Unemployment in North Chicago and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in North Chicago is 0.9 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What North Chicago 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
Commute16.8 min avg
How North Chicago residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Chicago, most residents drive alone to work (41%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 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 39% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Chicago runs 39% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
202.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
637
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Chicago 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 North Chicago, 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
North Chicago is about 4% 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 North Chicago, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
North Chicago is about 4% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Chicago has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.6"
Annual Snowfall
43.1"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.41" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.52" |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.22" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.77" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.92" |
| Jun | 77°F | 56°F | 4.45" |
| Jul | 81°F | 62°F | 3.48" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.59" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.57" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.25" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.26" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 1.86" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Chicago
North Chicago has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
13.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
North Chicago VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Lake Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.9 mi away · Waukegan
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Lake Forest
Vista Medical Center East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Waukegan
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 North Chicago
North Chicago's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
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 North Chicago (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)
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
12.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 183 students · in-state tuition $20,500 · 88% graduate · median earnings $61,393 (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, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Chicago
North Chicago has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
45 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Chicago
North Chicago Public Library
2100 Argonne Drive, North Chicago
Cities Near North Chicago
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Chicago?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Chicago FAQ
Is North Chicago, Illinois affordable?⌄
North Chicago's median rent is $1,426/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $60,172/year. Median home value is $159,600.
Is North Chicago, Illinois safe?⌄
North Chicago's violent crime rate was 203 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 637 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Chicago, Illinois?⌄
North Chicago has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Chicago, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in North Chicago is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,426/month and median household income is $60,172/year. The median home value is $159,600. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Chicago, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in North Chicago is 17 minutes, which is shorter 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