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Living in
Palos Heights.
About
Life in Palos Heights
Palos Heights is a community of 11,817 people in Illinois. The median household income is $107,974, and median home values are around $370,000. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Palos Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
50.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Foreign-Born
8.5%
Broadband Internet
94.1%
of households
Population Growth
-3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.5% foreign-born, most often from Lithuania
Who lives in Palos Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palos Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Lithuania (13.1%), and 5.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
32.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.1%
of households
Married Couples
59.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 Living
Rent, home values, and income in Palos Heights
In Palos Heights, home values are 39% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
42.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,624
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
93.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $404,548 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Palos Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Palos Heights, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Palos Heights: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Palos Heights is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Palos Heights 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
Commute29.9 min avg
How Palos Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palos Heights, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 22 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 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Palos Heights runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
50
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
832.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights, 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
Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights, 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
Palos Heights is less than 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
Palos Heights 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
41.2"
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 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palos Heights
Palos Heights has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Palos Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Christ Hospital & Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Oak Lawn
Osf Little Company of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Evergreen Park
Ingalls Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Harvey
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.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palos Heights
Palos Heights's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 43.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Palos Heights
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 820 students · in-state tuition $21,205 · 65% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
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 · 3,096 students · in-state tuition $39,080 · 62% graduate · median earnings $64,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Illinois Institute of Technology
14.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,833 students · in-state tuition $53,398 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,804 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,640 students · in-state tuition $5,662 · 30% graduate · median earnings $47,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 1,384 students · in-state tuition $13,358 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,395 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 200 students · in-state tuition $17,900 · 73% graduate · median earnings $46,609 (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, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palos Heights
Palos Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
36 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palos Heights
Palos Heights Public Library
12501 South 71st Avenue, Palos Heights
Cities Near Palos Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palos Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palos Heights FAQ
Is Palos Heights, Illinois safe?⌄
Palos Heights's violent crime rate was 50 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 833 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palos Heights, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Palos Heights, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in Palos Heights, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Palos Heights is 30 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