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Living in
Oak Lawn.
About
Life in Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn functions as a practical suburban base adjacent to Chicago with solid economic fundamentals—median household income is in the low $80,000s, home values hover around $281,000, and rent runs roughly $1,335 monthly. The village is anchored by Advocate Christ Medical Center, which provides steady employment and positions the area as a regional healthcare hub, though job growth beyond that sector is moderate. Your commute to Chicago or elsewhere will average about 31 minutes, and you'll definitely need a car despite the compact footprint.
Oak Lawn at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Foreign-Born
15.5%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Oak Lawn: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oak Lawn, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.2%), and 16.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
18.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.8%
of households
Married Couples
48.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
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 Oak Lawn
In Oak Lawn, home values are 7% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,160
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $298,866 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Oak Lawn and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oak Lawn is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Oak Lawn 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
Commute30.8 min avg
How Oak Lawn residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oak Lawn, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 20 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 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oak Lawn runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
73
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,393
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn, 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
Oak Lawn is about 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 Oak Lawn, 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
Oak Lawn is about 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oak Lawn has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 20°F | 2.30" |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 2.12" |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 2.66" |
| Apr | 60°F | 42°F | 4.15" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.75" |
| Jun | 81°F | 63°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 4.02" |
| Aug | 83°F | 67°F | 4.10" |
| Sep | 77°F | 59°F | 3.33" |
| Oct | 64°F | 47°F | 3.86" |
| Nov | 50°F | 35°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 2.33" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Advocate Christ Hospital & Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Osf Little Company of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Evergreen Park
Palos Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Palos Heights
Holy Cross Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 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.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 31.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Oak Lawn (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
12.1 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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,406 students · in-state tuition $13,020 · 46% graduate · median earnings $52,883 (10 yrs after entry)
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
13.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 24% graduate · median earnings $42,885 (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 Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn 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
34 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn Public Library
9427 South Raymond Avenue, Oak Lawn
Cities Near Oak Lawn
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oak Lawn?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oak Lawn FAQ
Is Oak Lawn, Illinois affordable?⌄
Oak Lawn's median rent is $1,335/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $83,911/year. Median home value is $281,200.
Is Oak Lawn, Illinois safe?⌄
Oak Lawn's violent crime rate was 73 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 1393 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oak Lawn, Illinois?⌄
Oak Lawn has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oak Lawn, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Oak Lawn is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,335/month and median household income is $83,911/year. The median home value is $281,200. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oak Lawn, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Oak Lawn is 31 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