© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Summit.
About
Life in Summit
Summit is a community of 10,896 people in Illinois. The median household income is $61,863, median rent runs about $1,137 per month, and median home values are around $232,600. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Summit at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
42.7%
Broadband Internet
84.0%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics42.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Summit: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Summit, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (77.5%), and 67.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.3%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.6%
of households
Married Couples
49.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.92
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 11% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Summit
In Summit, rent runs 11% below the IL average, and home values are 12% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,476
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $283,269 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Summit and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Summit, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Summit: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Summit is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Summit 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
Commute28.9 min avg
How Summit residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Summit, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 14 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Summit runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
187.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
974.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Summit 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 Summit, 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
Summit 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 Summit, 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
Summit is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Summit has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.7"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
106
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 1.48" |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 1.46" |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 1.88" |
| Apr | 60°F | 41°F | 3.57" |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 4.09" |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 4.01" |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 3.55" |
| Aug | 83°F | 66°F | 3.99" |
| Sep | 76°F | 59°F | 2.77" |
| Oct | 63°F | 47°F | 3.48" |
| Nov | 49°F | 35°F | 2.35" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 1.79" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Summit
Uninsured
15.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Summit's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Macneal Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Berwyn
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · La Grange
Hines VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 5 mi away · Hines
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.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Summit
Summit's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 14.0% 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
14.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Summit (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)
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 · 5,368 students · in-state tuition $37,344 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,427 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,406 students · in-state tuition $13,020 · 46% graduate · median earnings $52,883 (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, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Summit
Summit has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
38 mi awayPublic Libraries in Summit
Summit Public Library District
6233 South Archer Road, Summit
Cities Near Summit
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Summit?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Summit FAQ
Is Summit, Illinois affordable?⌄
Summit's median rent is $1,137/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,863/year. Median home value is $232,600.
Is Summit, Illinois safe?⌄
Summit's violent crime rate was 187 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 974 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Summit, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Summit, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Summit, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Summit is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,137/month and median household income is $61,863/year. The median home value is $232,600. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Summit, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Summit is 29 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