What it's like to live in Norridge
Norridge is a small city in Illinois with crime rates well below the national average and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Norridge deals with commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 38" per year
How Norridge compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Norridge
Based on Norridge's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,866
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,320 a year
- 42% of Norridge renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,490
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,433/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,433 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $374,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $374,900 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cook County is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cook County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 63% below US
122 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 3226/100k · Norridge Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 32% above US
34 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 34.2 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 13% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (22 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Norridge's strongest point is crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are commute times longer than most cities and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,433/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Norridge
All Illinois guides →Moving to River Grove →
3 mi away · pop. 10,451
Rent $1,214/mo · Income $69,858
Compare with Norridge →Moving to Elmwood Park →
3 mi away · pop. 23,868
Rent $1,334/mo · Income $91,955
Compare with Norridge →Moving to Franklin Park →
3 mi away · pop. 18,197
Rent $1,109/mo · Income $76,519
Compare with Norridge →Not sure Norridge is the one?
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