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Living in
Wood Dale.
About
Life in Wood Dale
Living in Wood Dale means settling into a quiet, stable suburb where you're close enough to Chicago to access jobs and culture without the urban sprawl or cost. The median household income sits at around $90k, with a median home value near $319k—reasonable for the Chicago area—and median rent around $1,680, so if you're buying or renting, you're getting decent value compared to many DuPage County neighbors. The job market is genuinely diverse: manufacturing, wholesale trade, healthcare, and administrative work all have strong local presence, though many residents commute into Chicago via the Metra Milwaukee District West Line for about 27 minutes, giving you flexibility whether you work locally or downtown.
Wood Dale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
27.9%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
-1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.9% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Wood Dale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wood Dale, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (36.0%), and 24.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
19.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.3%
of households
Married Couples
51.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
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 31% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Wood Dale
In Wood Dale, rent runs 31% above the IL average, and home values are 21% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,900
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $352,559 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Wood Dale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in DuPage County, which includes Wood Dale, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Wood Dale: DuPage County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
DuPage County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wood Dale is about 2% of DuPage County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wood Dale 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
Commute27.8 min avg
How Wood Dale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wood Dale, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 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 80% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wood Dale runs 80% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
64.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
916.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wood Dale 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 Wood Dale, 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
Wood Dale is about 2% 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 Wood Dale, 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
Wood Dale is about 2% of DuPage 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
Wood Dale 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
38.7"
Annual Snowfall
38.4"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
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 Wood Dale
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wood Dale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Alexian Brothers Medical Center 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Elk Grove Village
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Glendale Heights
Northwest Community Hospital 1
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Arlington 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.
Education11.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wood Dale
Wood Dale's student/teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wood Dale (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
3.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 14,027 students · in-state tuition $22,243 · 75% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
9.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,372 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 27% graduate · median earnings $47,007 (10 yrs after entry)
Northeastern Illinois University
13.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 3,982 students · in-state tuition $12,743 · 45% graduate · median earnings $56,278 (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)
Public · 2-year · 2,640 students · in-state tuition $5,662 · 30% graduate · median earnings $47,728 (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, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wood Dale
Wood Dale has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
27 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
51 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wood Dale
Wood Dale Public Library District
520 North Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale
Cities Near Wood Dale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wood Dale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wood Dale FAQ
Is Wood Dale, Illinois affordable?⌄
Wood Dale's median rent is $1,675/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $91,382/year. Median home value is $318,900.
Is Wood Dale, Illinois safe?⌄
Wood Dale's violent crime rate was 64 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 916 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wood Dale, Illinois?⌄
DuPage County, which includes Wood Dale, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wood Dale, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Wood Dale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,675/month and median household income is $91,382/year. The median home value is $318,900. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wood Dale, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Wood Dale is 28 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