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Living in
Westchester.
About
Life in Westchester
This is a solidly middle-class suburb built for families and people who value stability over buzz. With a median household income around $99,000 and median home values near $327,000, you're looking at genuine affordability compared to Chicago proper, though property taxes and utilities will still bite—the trade-off is that you're getting actual space and a quieter pace without completely leaving the metro area. The job market here isn't flashy; most employment centers around the school district, local service jobs, and the Westbrook Corporate Center office complex, but the 27-minute average commute to better-paying Chicago jobs means plenty of residents work elsewhere and just live here for the neighborhood.
Westchester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
51.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Foreign-Born
16.5%
Broadband Internet
90.1%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Westchester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Westchester, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (42.4%), and 20.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.9%
of residents
65 and Older
29.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.7%
of households
Married Couples
50.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
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 41% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Westchester
In Westchester, rent runs 41% above the IL average, and home values are 24% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
25.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,279
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
90.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $369,084 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Westchester and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Westchester, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Westchester: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Westchester is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Westchester 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
Commute27.4 min avg
How Westchester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Westchester, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 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 84% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Westchester runs 84% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
56.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
624.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Westchester 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 Westchester, 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
Westchester 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 Westchester, 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
Westchester 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
Westchester 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
41.1"
Annual Snowfall
42.3"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
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 Westchester
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Westchester's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Elmhurst
Hines VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Hines
Loyola University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Maywood
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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Westchester
Westchester's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 43.6% 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
43.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Westchester (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
12.5 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
10.3 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 · 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, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Westchester
Westchester has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
43 mi awayPublic Libraries in Westchester
Westchester Public Library
10700 Canterbury Street, Westchester
Cities Near Westchester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Westchester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Westchester FAQ
Is Westchester, Illinois affordable?⌄
Westchester's median rent is $1,794/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $98,954/year. Median home value is $327,300.
Is Westchester, Illinois safe?⌄
Westchester's violent crime rate was 57 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 624 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Westchester, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Westchester, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Westchester, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Westchester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,794/month and median household income is $98,954/year. The median home value is $327,300. About 25% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Westchester, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Westchester is 27 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