The Town FilesChicago Heights, Illinois
City in Cook County · population 27,480 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,000
- Household income
- $54,798
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 35.2
Chicago Heights is a city of 27,480 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $161,000, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 92% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Chicago Heights 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 Chicago Heights is worth $161,000, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $54,798, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,038 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chicago Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,038 | $960 |
| Median household income | $54,798 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chicago Heights
| People | Chicago Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Chicago Heights
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chicago Heights since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 12, 1965 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 127 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 28, 2012.
Severe weather in Cook County since 1996
Cook County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| November 20, 2023 | Flood | DR-4749: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cook County
Cook County had 2,565,567 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $86,931 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Chicago Heights itself the ACS puts it at 14.6%.
Public schools in Chicago Heights
24 public schools with 6,230 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloom High School | 9-12 | 1,832 | 18.9 |
| Bloom Trail High School | 9-12 | 1,272 | 18.4 |
| Chicago Heights Middle School | 6-8 | 862 | 13.5 |
| Roosevelt Elem School | PK-5 | 348 | 16.6 |
| Serena Hills Elem School | K-5 | 319 | 12.8 |
| Barack Obama Sch of Ldership | 4-5 | 315 | 13.7 |
| Washington-McKinley Elem Sch | PK-5 | 279 | 11.2 |
| Garfield Elem School | PK-5 | 219 | 13.7 |
| Kennedy Elem School | PK-5 | 199 | 18.1 |
| Greenbriar Elem School | PK-5 | 183 | 16.6 |
| Wilson Elem School | PK-5 | 161 | 17.9 |
| Jefferson Elem School | PK-5 | 155 | 12.9 |
Towns near Chicago Heights
- South Chicago Heights, IL1.9 mi · 4,026 people · home $149,300
- Glenwood, IL2.4 mi · 8,662 people · home $198,100
- Steger, IL2.8 mi · 9,584 people · home $156,700
- Olympia Fields, IL3.1 mi · 4,718 people · home $329,000
- Flossmoor, IL3.3 mi · 9,704 people · home $344,800
- Park Forest, IL3.4 mi · 21,687 people · home $115,300
- Sauk Village, IL3.6 mi · 9,921 people · home $110,800
- Homewood, IL3.6 mi · 19,463 people · home $221,100
Chicago Heights questions
Is Chicago Heights, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chicago Heights scores better for retirees than 2% of Illinois towns and quieter than 8%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Chicago Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Chicago Heights is valued at $161,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,798, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,038 a month.
What is the weather like in Chicago Heights?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.2 inches of snow.
Does Chicago Heights get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chicago Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 12, 1965. 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)