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Living in
Zion.
About
Life in Zion
Zion is a community of 24,466 people in Illinois. The median household income is $62,574, median rent runs about $1,186 per month, and median home values are around $183,800. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.
Zion at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.0%
Foreign-Born
19.2%
Broadband Internet
90.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Zion: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Zion, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (58.8%), and 31.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.5%
of residents
65 and Older
11.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.3%
of households
Married Couples
38.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
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 7% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Zion
In Zion, rent runs 7% below the IL average, and home values are 30% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,120
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $256,335 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Zion and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Zion is 1.5 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Zion 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
Commute27.7 min avg
How Zion residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Zion, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 33 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Zion is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
334.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
875.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Zion Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Zion, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $70,000 |
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
Lake County, county-wide
Zion is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Zion, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Zion is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Zion has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.3"
Annual Snowfall
36.2"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
132
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.41" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.52" |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.22" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.77" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.92" |
| Jun | 77°F | 56°F | 4.45" |
| Jul | 81°F | 62°F | 3.48" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.59" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.57" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.25" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.26" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 1.86" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Zion
Zion has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Midwestern Region Med Center, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Vista Medical Center East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Waukegan
Lake Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 7 mi away · Waukegan
Froedtert South Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Kenosha
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.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Zion
Zion's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Zion (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,660 students · in-state tuition $41,000 · 62% graduate · median earnings $59,594 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,813 students · in-state tuition $58,902 · 76% graduate · median earnings $70,470 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 522 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 59% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (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, 54 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Zion
Zion has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (54 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
54 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Zion
Zion-Benton Public Library District
2400 Gabriel Avenue, Zion
Cities Near Zion
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Zion?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Zion FAQ
Is Zion, Illinois affordable?⌄
Zion's median rent is $1,186/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,104/year. Median home value is $183,800.
Is Zion, Illinois safe?⌄
Zion's violent crime rate was 334 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 876 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Zion, Illinois?⌄
Zion has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Zion, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Zion is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,186/month and median household income is $63,104/year. The median home value is $183,800. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Zion, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Zion 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