The Town FilesNorth Chicago, Illinois
City in Lake County · population 30,759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,600
- Household income
- $60,172
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 23.2
North Chicago is a city of 30,759 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $159,600, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Illinois towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 86% of Illinois towns.
How North Chicago 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 North Chicago is worth $159,600, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,172, which is more affordable than 31% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,426 a month. 32.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Chicago | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,426 | $960 |
| Median household income | $60,172 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 32.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in North Chicago
| People | North Chicago | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 17.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.2% | — |
| Work from home | 25.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in North Chicago
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Chicago since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 1967.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in North Chicago itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in North Chicago
8 public schools with 3,483 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Chicago Community High Sch | 9-12 | 870 | 15.3 |
| Neal Math Science Academy | 6-8 | 545 | 14.0 |
| LEARN Chtr Sch 6 N Chicago Campus (charter) | K-8 | 503 | 11.7 |
| Forrestal Elem School | K-3 | 397 | 12.8 |
| Evelyn Alexander School | K-3 | 330 | 12.7 |
| A J Katzenmaier Academy | 4-5 | 320 | 12.8 |
| LEARN 10 Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 301 | 13.7 |
| Green Bay Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 217 | 12.1 |
Towns near North Chicago
- Lake Bluff, IL2.4 mi · 5,616 people · home $776,700
- Green Oaks, IL2.9 mi · 4,128 people · home $673,100
- Park City, IL3.1 mi · 7,885 people · home $57,400
- Waukegan, IL3.7 mi · 89,321 people · home $190,900
- Gurnee, IL5.4 mi · 30,706 people · home $344,300
- Lake Forest, IL5.6 mi · 19,367 people · home $938,300
- Libertyville, IL5.9 mi · 20,579 people · home $512,000
- Gages Lake, IL6.7 mi · 10,637 people · home $310,500
North Chicago questions
Is North Chicago, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Chicago scores better for retirees than 2% of Illinois towns and quieter than 4%. 6.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.2).
How much does a house cost in North Chicago?
The median owner-occupied home in North Chicago is valued at $159,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,172, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,426 a month.
What is the weather like in North Chicago?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.6 inches of snow.
Does North Chicago get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Chicago since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. 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)