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Living in
West Chicago.
About
Life in West Chicago
West Chicago works best if you're looking for a straightforward suburban lifestyle with reasonable proximity to Chicago jobs without paying Chicago prices. The median home price of $336,800 is genuinely attainable for middle-income families, especially compared to closer-in suburbs, and rent averages $1,469 monthly. Jobs are here too—companies like Jel Sert and Ball Horticultural have headquarters in town, keeping unemployment low at 4.6%—but most residents still commute, averaging 27 minutes.
West Chicago at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
32.9%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Chicago: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Chicago, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.8%), and 40.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.2%
of residents
65 and Older
11.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
44.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.8%
of households
Married Couples
57.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.35
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 15% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in West Chicago
In West Chicago, rent runs 15% above the IL average, and home values are 28% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
40.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,277
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $388,869 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in West Chicago and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in West Chicago is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What West Chicago 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
Commute26.3 min avg
How West Chicago residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Chicago, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 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 56% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Chicago runs 56% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
145.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
613.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Chicago Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
DuPage County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In DuPage County, which includes West Chicago, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2024 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,000 |
| 2022 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 18 | Flood | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $560,000 |
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
DuPage County, county-wide
West Chicago is about 3% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in DuPage County, which includes West Chicago, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
126
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
DuPage County, county-wide
West Chicago is about 3% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Chicago has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.2"
Annual Snowfall
46.2"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.27" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 1.24" |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 1.97" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 3.44" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 3.65" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.62" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.00" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 2.99" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.20" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 1.67" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Chicago
Uninsured
12.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Chicago's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Winfield
Northwestern Medicine Delnor Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Geneva
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Glendale Heights
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.
Education12.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Chicago
West Chicago's student/teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Chicago (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
10.3 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 · 3,974 students · in-state tuition $29,970 · 67% graduate · median earnings $64,180 (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 · 2,428 students · in-state tuition $47,340 · 72% graduate · median earnings $65,646 (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)
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, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Chicago
West Chicago has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
35 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Chicago
West Chicago Public Library District
118 West Washington Street, West Chicago
Cities Near West Chicago
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Chicago?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Chicago FAQ
Is West Chicago, Illinois affordable?⌄
West Chicago's median rent is $1,469/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $99,927/year. Median home value is $336,800.
Is West Chicago, Illinois safe?⌄
West Chicago's violent crime rate was 145 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 613 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Chicago, Illinois?⌄
West Chicago has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Chicago, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in West Chicago is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,469/month and median household income is $99,927/year. The median home value is $336,800. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Chicago, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in West Chicago 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