© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Rolling Meadows.
About
Life in Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows is a community of 23,981 people in Illinois. The median household income is $98,514, median rent runs about $1,607 per month, and median home values are around $326,200. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Rolling Meadows at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Foreign-Born
29.0%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics29.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Rolling Meadows: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rolling Meadows, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (33.7%), and 24.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.2%
of households
Married Couples
51.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
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 26% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Rolling Meadows
In Rolling Meadows, rent runs 26% above the IL average, and home values are 24% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,636
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $336,512 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Rolling Meadows and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Rolling Meadows, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Rolling Meadows: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Rolling Meadows is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Rolling Meadows 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
Commute25.5 min avg
How Rolling Meadows residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rolling Meadows, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 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 Rolling Meadows runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
72
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,282.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows, 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
Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows, 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
Rolling Meadows 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
Rolling Meadows 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
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
38.5"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
136
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 Rolling Meadows
Uninsured
12.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rolling Meadows's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwest Community Hospital 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.7 mi away · Arlington Heights
Alexian Brothers Medical Center 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Elk Grove Village
Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hlth Hosp
Psychiatric · 5.9 mi away · Hoffman Estates
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.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 43.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rolling Meadows (within 15 miles)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
8.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 14,027 students · in-state tuition $22,243 · 75% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
14.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,372 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 27% graduate · median earnings $47,007 (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 · 2,121 students · in-state tuition $47,770 · 88% graduate · median earnings $68,390 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 708 students · in-state tuition $31,810 · 50% graduate · median earnings $59,095 (10 yrs after entry)
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
7.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 183 students · in-state tuition $20,500 · 88% graduate · median earnings $61,393 (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, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
57 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows Library
3110 Martin Lane, Rolling Meadows
Cities Near Rolling Meadows
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rolling Meadows?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rolling Meadows FAQ
Is Rolling Meadows, Illinois affordable?⌄
Rolling Meadows's median rent is $1,607/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $98,514/year. Median home value is $326,200.
Is Rolling Meadows, Illinois safe?⌄
Rolling Meadows's violent crime rate was 72 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 1283 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rolling Meadows, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Rolling Meadows, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rolling Meadows, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Rolling Meadows is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,607/month and median household income is $98,514/year. The median home value is $326,200. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rolling Meadows, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Rolling Meadows 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