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Living in
Shorewood.
About
Life in Shorewood
Living in Shorewood means settling into a stable, family-oriented suburb about 39 miles southwest of Chicago where most people actually stay put. The median household income sits around $122,648, which reflects a solidly middle-to-upper-class community, though you'll pay for it—median home values hover near $337,800 and rent runs about $1,479 a month, so it's not a bargain compared to outer suburbs. The population skews toward established families (nearly two-thirds of households are married couples with kids), and the median age of 42 suggests people aren't rushing to leave once they move in.
Shorewood at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Shorewood: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shorewood, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (36.9%), and 8.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
22.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.0%
of households
Married Couples
63.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
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 Shorewood
In Shorewood, rent runs 16% above the IL average, and home values are 28% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,463
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
96.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $415,858 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Shorewood and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Will County, which includes Shorewood, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Shorewood: Will County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Will County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Shorewood is about 3% of Will County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Shorewood 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
Commute34.7 min avg
How Shorewood residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shorewood, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 35 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 82% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shorewood runs 82% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
59.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
639.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shorewood Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 39 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Will County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Will County, which includes Shorewood, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 39 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.3M |
| 2024 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $250,000 |
| 2023 | 24 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $33,000 |
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
Will County, county-wide
Shorewood is about 3% of Will County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Will County, which includes Shorewood, is typically good — 225 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
225
per year
Moderate Days
135
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Will County, county-wide
Shorewood is about 3% of Will County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Shorewood has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.2"
Annual Snowfall
16.9"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
126
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
135
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 1.99" |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 1.78" |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 2.27" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.93" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.53" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.30" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 4.55" |
| Aug | 82°F | 63°F | 3.97" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.17" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.14" |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 2.46" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 1.94" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Shorewood
Uninsured
2.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Shorewood's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Joseph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Joliet
Silver Cross Hospital and Medical Centers
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12 mi away · New Lenox
Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 12 mi away · New Lenox
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.
Education11.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shorewood
Shorewood's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 41.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Shorewood (within 15 miles)
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 · 1,223 students · in-state tuition $38,900 · 71% graduate · median earnings $69,137 (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 Shorewood
Shorewood 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
58 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shorewood
Shorewood-Troy Public Library District
650 Deerwood Drive, Shorewood
Cities Near Shorewood
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shorewood?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shorewood FAQ
Is Shorewood, Illinois affordable?⌄
Shorewood's median rent is $1,479/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $122,105/year. Median home value is $337,800.
Is Shorewood, Illinois safe?⌄
Shorewood's violent crime rate was 59 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 640 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shorewood, Illinois?⌄
Will County, which includes Shorewood, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shorewood, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Shorewood is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,479/month and median household income is $122,105/year. The median home value is $337,800. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shorewood, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Shorewood 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