What it's like to live in North Chicago
North Chicago is a small city in Illinois with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Chicago deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 43" per year
How North Chicago compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Chicago
Based on North Chicago's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,852
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,040 a year
- 47% of North Chicago renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$31,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $15,960
- Homes cost 2.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,426/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,426 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $159,600. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $159,600 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 39% below US
203 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 637/100k · North Chicago Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 35% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.8 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 26% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 42% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below 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 (45 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Chicago's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,426/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (26% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near North Chicago
All Illinois guides →Moving to Waukegan →
4 mi away · pop. 89,076
Rent $1,205/mo · Income $71,919
Compare with North Chicago →Moving to Lake Forest →
5 mi away · pop. 19,416
Rent $1,815/mo · Income $235,081
Compare with North Chicago →Moving to Gurnee →
6 mi away · pop. 30,510
Rent $1,655/mo · Income $119,628
Compare with North Chicago →Moving to Libertyville →
6 mi away · pop. 20,525
Rent $1,637/mo · Income $165,667
Compare with North Chicago →Not sure North Chicago is the one?
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