What it's like to live in South Holland
South Holland is a small city in Illinois with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. South Holland deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How South Holland compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to South Holland
Based on South Holland's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,712
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,240 a year
- 70% of South Holland renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$43,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $21,720
- Homes cost 2.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 31% above US
$1,856/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,856 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $217,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $217,200 · 70% 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▼ 50% below US
165 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 1741/100k · South Holland Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 31% above US
34 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 34.1 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; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 28% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, 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 (7 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
South Holland's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,856/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near South Holland
All Illinois guides →Moving to Dolton →
2 mi away · pop. 20,825
Rent $1,384/mo · Income $57,887
Compare with South Holland →Moving to Calumet City →
3 mi away · pop. 35,100
Rent $1,177/mo · Income $55,369
Compare with South Holland →Moving to Riverdale →
4 mi away · pop. 10,340
Rent $1,231/mo · Income $39,833
Compare with South Holland →Not sure South Holland is the one?
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