The Town FilesSouth Chicago Heights, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 4,026 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,300
- Household income
- $58,691
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 41.1
South Chicago Heights is a village of 4,026 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $149,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Illinois towns, hipper than 92% of Illinois towns, better transit than 91% of Illinois towns.
How South 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 South Chicago Heights is worth $149,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $58,691, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,196 a month. 60.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Chicago Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,196 | $960 |
| Median household income | $58,691 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Chicago Heights
| People | South Chicago Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in South 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
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Chicago Heights since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 12, 1965 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 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 South Chicago Heights itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in South Chicago Heights
2 public schools with 525 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steger Primary Center | PK-1 | 362 | 14.5 |
| U S Grant Elem School | PK-5 | 163 | 12.5 |
Towns near South Chicago Heights
- Steger, IL1.3 mi · 9,584 people · home $156,700
- Chicago Heights, IL1.9 mi · 27,480 people · home $161,000
- Park Forest, IL2.6 mi · 21,687 people · home $115,300
- Crete, IL3.0 mi · 8,465 people · home $228,500
- Sauk Village, IL3.5 mi · 9,921 people · home $110,800
- Olympia Fields, IL3.9 mi · 4,718 people · home $329,000
- Glenwood, IL4.2 mi · 8,662 people · home $198,100
- Flossmoor, IL4.6 mi · 9,704 people · home $344,800
South Chicago Heights questions
Is South Chicago Heights, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Chicago Heights scores better for retirees than 2% of Illinois towns and quieter than 10%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in South Chicago Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in South Chicago Heights is valued at $149,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,691, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,196 a month.
What is the weather like in South 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 South Chicago Heights get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South 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)