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Living in
Western Springs.
About
Life in Western Springs
Western Springs is a community of 13,353 people in Illinois. The median household income is $230,255, median rent runs about $2,006 per month, and median home values are around $739,400. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Western Springs at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Foreign-Born
4.9%
Broadband Internet
97.0%
of households
Population Growth
-0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.9% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Western Springs: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Western Springs, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (17.3%), and 2.3% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
32.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.5%
of households
Married Couples
77.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
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 57% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Western Springs
In Western Springs, rent runs 57% above the IL average, and home values are 181% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
95.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $905,930 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Western Springs and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes Western Springs, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Western Springs: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Western Springs is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Western Springs 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
Commute31 min avg
How Western Springs residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Western Springs, most residents drive alone to work (54%), and 43% 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
- 12 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 93% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Western Springs runs 93% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
22.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
229.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Western Springs 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 Western Springs, 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
Western Springs 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 Western Springs, 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
Western Springs is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Western Springs has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.1"
Annual Snowfall
42.3"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 2.30" |
| Feb | 37°F | 18°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 49°F | 28°F | 2.50" |
| Apr | 62°F | 39°F | 4.14" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.98" |
| Jun | 84°F | 60°F | 4.65" |
| Jul | 90°F | 64°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 87°F | 63°F | 4.46" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 3.68" |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.40" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Western Springs
Uninsured
0.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Western Springs's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 0.8 mi away · La Grange
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1 mi away · Hinsdale
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Elmhurst
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 Western Springs
Western Springs's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 83.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
83.8%
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 Western Springs (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
13.7 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
12.4 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)
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
12.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,372 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 27% graduate · median earnings $47,007 (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, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Western Springs
Western Springs has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
43 mi awayPublic Libraries in Western Springs
Thomas Ford Memorial Library
800 Chestnut Street, Western Springs
Cities Near Western Springs
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Western Springs?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Western Springs FAQ
Is Western Springs, Illinois affordable?⌄
Western Springs's median rent is $2,006/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $230,255/year. Median home value is $739,400.
Is Western Springs, Illinois safe?⌄
Western Springs's violent crime rate was 22 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 229 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Western Springs, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes Western Springs, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Western Springs, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Western Springs is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,006/month and median household income is $230,255/year. The median home value is $739,400. About 27% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Western Springs, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Western Springs is 31 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