© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Palos Hills.
About
Life in Palos Hills
This southwest Chicago suburb feels like a place where people genuinely put down roots—you'll find Polish, German, Irish, and Arab families who've been here for generations, creating a real neighborhood feel rather than just a bedroom community. The median household income sits around $84,000, which is solid middle-class territory, and home values around $279,000 offer reasonable access compared to many Chicago-area neighborhoods, though you're still paying the Cook County tax premium. Schools here matter to families: Amos Alonzo Stagg High School and Moraine Valley Community College anchor the education landscape, and you've got multiple elementary districts serving different parts of town.
Palos Hills at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Foreign-Born
27.3%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.3% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Palos Hills: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palos Hills, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (43.5%), and 23.5% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.8%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 Palos Hills
In Palos Hills, home values are 6% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,613
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $297,123 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Palos Hills and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Palos Hills, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Palos Hills: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Palos Hills is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Palos Hills 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
Commute35.2 min avg
How Palos Hills residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palos Hills, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 39% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 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 93% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Palos Hills runs 93% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
22.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
647.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Palos Hills 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 Hills, 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 Hills 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 Hills, 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 Hills is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palos Hills has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.4"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 2.30" |
| Feb | 37°F | 18°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 49°F | 28°F | 2.50" |
| Apr | 62°F | 39°F | 4.14" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.98" |
| Jun | 84°F | 60°F | 4.65" |
| Jul | 90°F | 64°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 87°F | 63°F | 4.46" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 3.68" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.40" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palos Hills
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Palos Hills's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Palos Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Palos Heights
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 · 7.1 mi away · Evergreen Park
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.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palos Hills
Palos Hills's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palos Hills (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
15 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 · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,015 students · in-state tuition $40,700 · 64% graduate · median earnings $59,389 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,006 students · in-state tuition $45,858 · 72% graduate · median earnings $67,398 (10 yrs after entry)
Illinois Institute of Technology
13.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,833 students · in-state tuition $53,398 · 75% graduate · median earnings $90,804 (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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palos Hills
Palos Hills has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
38 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palos Hills
Green Hills Public Library District
8611 West 103rd Street, Palos Hills
Cities Near Palos Hills
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palos Hills?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palos Hills FAQ
Is Palos Hills, Illinois affordable?⌄
Palos Hills's median rent is $1,269/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $83,533/year. Median home value is $279,200.
Is Palos Hills, Illinois safe?⌄
Palos Hills's violent crime rate was 22 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 647 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palos Hills, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Palos Hills, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palos Hills, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Palos Hills is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,269/month and median household income is $83,533/year. The median home value is $279,200. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palos Hills, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Palos Hills is 35 minutes, which is longer 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