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Living in
Northlake.
About
Life in Northlake
Northlake is a community of 12,547 people in Illinois. The median household income is $83,892, median rent runs about $1,123 per month, and median home values are around $259,800. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Northlake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Foreign-Born
30.1%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Northlake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Northlake, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (73.0%), and 52.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.4%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.8%
of households
Married Couples
45.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.77
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% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Northlake
In Northlake, rent runs 12% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,005
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $308,317 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Northlake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Northlake, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Northlake: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Northlake is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Northlake 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
Commute28.5 min avg
How Northlake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Northlake, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 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 56% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Northlake runs 56% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
145.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
745.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Northlake 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 Northlake, 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
Northlake 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 Northlake, 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
Northlake 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
Northlake 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
38.6"
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 Northlake
Uninsured
10.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Northlake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Melrose Park
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Elmhurst
Loyola University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Maywood
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.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Northlake
Northlake's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Northlake (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
13.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (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
7.3 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)
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, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Northlake
Northlake has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
46 mi awayPublic Libraries in Northlake
Northlake Public Library District
231 North Wolf Road, Northlake
Cities Near Northlake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Northlake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Northlake FAQ
Is Northlake, Illinois affordable?⌄
Northlake's median rent is $1,123/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $83,892/year. Median home value is $259,800.
Is Northlake, Illinois safe?⌄
Northlake's violent crime rate was 146 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 745 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Northlake, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Northlake, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Northlake, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Northlake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,123/month and median household income is $83,892/year. The median home value is $259,800. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Northlake, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Northlake is 29 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