The Town FilesPalos Park, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 4,899 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $464,700
- Household income
- $121,696
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 59.7
Palos Park is a village of 4,899 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $464,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 93% of Illinois towns, better transit than 84% of Illinois towns.
How Palos Park 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 Palos Park is worth $464,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $121,696, which is more affordable than 7% of Illinois towns. 89.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palos Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $464,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | — | $960 |
| Median household income | $121,696 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 89.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palos Park
| People | Palos Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.8% | — |
| Work from home | 28.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Palos Park
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
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palos Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 13, 1976 about 5.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 37 deaths and 655 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 145 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 Palos Park itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Palos Park
2 public schools with 1,413 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palos West Elementary School | PK-5 | 708 | 13.9 |
| Palos South Middle School | 6-8 | 705 | 13.8 |
Towns near Palos Park
- Palos Heights, IL1.7 mi · 12,068 people · home $367,100
- Palos Hills, IL2.4 mi · 18,530 people · home $279,200
- Worth, IL2.4 mi · 10,970 people · home $215,000
- Chicago Ridge, IL3.6 mi · 14,433 people · home $226,900
- Hickory Hills, IL4.1 mi · 14,505 people · home $288,000
- Orland Park, IL4.3 mi · 58,703 people · home $367,200
- Alsip, IL4.8 mi · 19,063 people · home $225,000
- Crestwood, IL4.8 mi · 10,826 people · home $195,200
Palos Park questions
Is Palos Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palos Park scores better for retirees than 98% of Illinois towns and quieter than 73%. 36.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.7).
How much does a house cost in Palos Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Palos Park is valued at $464,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,696, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Palos Park?
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 Palos Park get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palos Park 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)