The Town FilesCountryside, Illinois
City in Cook County · population 6,420 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $324,700
- Household income
- $80,968
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 47.0
Countryside is a city of 6,420 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $324,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 96% of Illinois towns, better transit than 95% of Illinois towns.
How Countryside 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 Countryside is worth $324,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $80,968, which is more affordable than 4% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,180 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Countryside | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $324,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,180 | $960 |
| Median household income | $80,968 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Countryside
| People | Countryside | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Countryside
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Countryside since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 13, 1976 about 5.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 35 deaths and 566 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 165 times; the largest was 4.80 inches on March 10, 2026.
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 Countryside itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Countryside
1 public school with 251 students, about 8.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal Elem School | K-6 | 251 | 8.4 |
Towns near Countryside
- Indian Head Park, IL1.2 mi · 4,065 people · home $356,600
- La Grange, IL2.3 mi · 16,321 people · home $594,300
- Western Springs, IL2.3 mi · 13,629 people · home $739,400
- Willow Springs, IL2.8 mi · 5,857 people · home $378,300
- Justice, IL2.9 mi · 12,600 people · home $238,400
- Burr Ridge, IL2.9 mi · 11,192 people · home $700,400
- Hinsdale, IL3.3 mi · 17,395 people · home $1,053,700
- Summit, IL3.3 mi · 11,161 people · home $232,600
Countryside questions
Is Countryside, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Countryside scores better for retirees than 36% of Illinois towns and quieter than 23%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Countryside?
The median owner-occupied home in Countryside is valued at $324,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,968, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,180 a month.
What is the weather like in Countryside?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.8 inches of snow.
Does Countryside get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Countryside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 13, 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)