The Town FilesNorthlake, Illinois
City in Cook County · population 12,840 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $259,800
- Household income
- $83,892
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 41.9
Northlake is a city of 12,840 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $259,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 92% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 81% of Illinois towns.
How Northlake 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 Northlake is worth $259,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $83,892, which is more affordable than 19% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,123 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northlake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $259,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,123 | $960 |
| Median household income | $83,892 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Northlake
| People | Northlake | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 30.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Northlake
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northlake since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 106 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 179 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 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 Northlake itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Northlake
7 public schools with 3,966 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Leyden High School | 9-12 | 1,770 | 14.8 |
| Roy Elem School | K-5 | 521 | 11.6 |
| Westdale Elem School | K-5 | 469 | 10.7 |
| Northlake Middle School | 6-8 | 366 | 12.2 |
| Whittier Primary School | PK-2 | 365 | 13.0 |
| J W Riley Intermediate School | 3-5 | 323 | 10.4 |
| Mannheim Early Childhood Ctr | PK-PK | 152 | 12.7 |
Towns near Northlake
- Stone Park, IL1.5 mi · 4,576 people · home $242,100
- Berkeley, IL1.8 mi · 5,338 people · home $246,900
- Franklin Park, IL2.0 mi · 18,467 people · home $287,000
- Melrose Park, IL2.3 mi · 24,796 people · home $275,800
- Elmhurst, IL2.3 mi · 45,786 people · home $545,400
- Bellwood, IL2.6 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
- Hillside, IL3.2 mi · 8,320 people · home $246,800
- River Grove, IL3.5 mi · 10,612 people · home $241,800
Northlake questions
Is Northlake, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northlake scores better for retirees than 3% of Illinois towns and quieter than 4%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Northlake?
The median owner-occupied home in Northlake is valued at $259,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,892, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,123 a month.
What is the weather like in Northlake?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 38.4 inches of snow.
Does Northlake get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northlake 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)