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Living in
River Grove.
About
Life in River Grove
River Grove is a community of 10,482 people in Illinois. The median household income is $69,858, median rent runs about $1,214 per month, and median home values are around $241,800. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
River Grove at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Foreign-Born
30.1%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.1% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in River Grove: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In River Grove, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (29.7%), and 26.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
42.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
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 River Grove
In River Grove, home values are 8% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
31.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,591
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $323,724 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in River Grove and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes River Grove, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
River Grove: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
River Grove is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What River Grove 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 River Grove residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In River Grove, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 42% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 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 68% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in River Grove runs 68% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
105.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,203.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
River Grove 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 River Grove, 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
River Grove 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 River Grove, 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
River Grove 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
River Grove 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
40.6"
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 River Grove
Uninsured
7.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside River Grove's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.1 mi away · Melrose Park
Shriners Hospital for Children
Childrens · 2.3 mi away · Chicago
Chicago Read Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · 3.1 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.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in River Grove
River Grove's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near River Grove (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
10.3 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
10.5 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, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for River Grove
River Grove has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
43 mi awayPublic Libraries in River Grove
River Grove Public Library District
8638 West Grand Avenue, River Grove
Cities Near River Grove
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to River Grove?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
River Grove FAQ
Is River Grove, Illinois affordable?⌄
River Grove's median rent is $1,214/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,858/year. Median home value is $241,800.
Is River Grove, Illinois safe?⌄
River Grove's violent crime rate was 106 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 1203 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in River Grove, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes River Grove, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in River Grove, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in River Grove is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,214/month and median household income is $69,858/year. The median home value is $241,800. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in River Grove, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in River Grove 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