The Town FilesCarol Stream, Illinois
Village in DuPage County · population 39,854 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $335,000
- Household income
- $102,309
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 57
- Median age
- 40.4
Carol Stream is a village of 39,854 people in DuPage County, Illinois. The median home is worth $335,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 94% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Illinois towns.
How Carol Stream ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carol Stream is worth $335,000, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $102,309, which is more affordable than 15% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,529 a month. 67.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carol Stream | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $335,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,529 | $960 |
| Median household income | $102,309 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carol Stream
| People | Carol Stream | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Carol Stream
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carol Stream since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 170 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 22, 1984.
Severe weather in DuPage County since 1996
DuPage County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DuPage County
DuPage County had 622,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Carol Stream itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Carol Stream
9 public schools with 5,336 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenbard North High School | 9-12 | 2,143 | 15.5 |
| Cloverdale Elem School | K-5 | 561 | 12.8 |
| Jay Stream Middle School | 6-8 | 532 | 9.5 |
| Spring Trail Elementary School | K-6 | 484 | 20.2 |
| Carol Stream Elem School | K-5 | 408 | 16.3 |
| Evergreen Elementary School | PK-4 | 388 | 12.9 |
| Heritage Lakes Elem School | K-5 | 325 | 12.0 |
| Western Trails Elem School | K-5 | 303 | 11.2 |
| Roy De Shane Elementary School | K-5 | 192 | 8.3 |
Towns near Carol Stream
- Glendale Heights, IL2.8 mi · 33,176 people · home $261,700
- Winfield, IL3.1 mi · 9,835 people · home $386,300
- Bloomingdale, IL3.1 mi · 22,382 people · home $376,500
- Bartlett, IL3.6 mi · 41,105 people · home $375,700
- Hanover Park, IL4.3 mi · 37,470 people · home $274,200
- Wheaton, IL4.6 mi · 53,970 people · home $455,700
- Roselle, IL4.8 mi · 22,897 people · home $344,700
- West Chicago, IL4.9 mi · 25,614 people · home $336,800
Carol Stream questions
Is Carol Stream, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carol Stream scores better for retirees than 28% of Illinois towns and quieter than 9%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Carol Stream?
The median owner-occupied home in Carol Stream is valued at $335,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,309, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,529 a month.
What is the weather like in Carol Stream?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 34.0 inches of snow.
Does Carol Stream get tornadoes?
57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carol Stream since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 1976. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)