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Living in
Prospect Heights.
About
Life in Prospect Heights
Living in Prospect Heights means settling into a dense, fully urban suburb just outside Chicago where you're never far from the city but you get actual space and community. The median household income sits around $85,008, and while homes average $347,500, that's reasonable for the Chicago metro area—though you're looking at paying $1,475 monthly for a rental if you go that route. The job market here is stable with a 4.8% unemployment rate, and with Metra service connecting you directly to Union Station plus easy access to I-90, most residents commute into Chicago or find work in the surrounding suburbs; the average commute is about 26 minutes, which is actually manageable for the region.
Prospect Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
40.6%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
-3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics40.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Prospect Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Prospect Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (28.5%), and 21.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.1%
of households
Married Couples
46.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
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 16% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Prospect Heights
In Prospect Heights, rent runs 16% above the IL average, and home values are 32% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
31.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,289
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $330,260 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Prospect Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Prospect Heights, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Prospect Heights: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Prospect Heights is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Prospect 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
Commute26 min avg
How Prospect Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Prospect Heights, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Prospect Heights runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
45.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
543.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Prospect 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 Prospect 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
Prospect 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 Prospect 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
Prospect Heights is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Prospect Heights has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.3"
Annual Snowfall
33.6"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 1.33" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 1.28" |
| Mar | 47°F | 30°F | 1.84" |
| Apr | 58°F | 39°F | 3.31" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 3.76" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 3.97" |
| Jul | 84°F | 66°F | 3.15" |
| Aug | 82°F | 65°F | 3.70" |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 3.04" |
| Oct | 63°F | 45°F | 3.11" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.15" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 1.64" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Prospect Heights
Uninsured
18.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Prospect Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwest Community Hospital 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Arlington Heights
Chicago Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.8 mi away · Des Plaines
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Park Ridge
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 Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 41.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.3%
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 Prospect Heights (within 15 miles)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
12.1 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 · 9,201 students · in-state tuition $70,589 · 97% graduate · median earnings $104,255 (10 yrs after entry)
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
12.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,372 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 27% graduate · median earnings $47,007 (10 yrs after entry)
Northeastern Illinois University
13.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 3,982 students · in-state tuition $12,743 · 45% graduate · median earnings $56,278 (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,561 students · in-state tuition $40,608 · 64% graduate · median earnings $66,693 (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, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
33 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights Public Library District
12 North Elm Street, Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights Convenience Center
99 East Palatine Road, Suite A, Prospect Heights
Cities Near Prospect Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Prospect Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Prospect Heights FAQ
Is Prospect Heights, Illinois affordable?⌄
Prospect Heights's median rent is $1,475/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $85,008/year. Median home value is $346,500.
Is Prospect Heights, Illinois safe?⌄
Prospect Heights's violent crime rate was 45 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 543 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Prospect Heights, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Prospect Heights, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Prospect Heights, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Prospect Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,475/month and median household income is $85,008/year. The median home value is $346,500. About 31% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Prospect Heights, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Prospect Heights is 26 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