The Town FilesWest Chicago, Illinois
City in DuPage County · population 25,614 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $336,800
- Household income
- $99,927
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 36.3
West Chicago is a city of 25,614 people in DuPage County, Illinois. The median home is worth $336,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better transit than 85% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 83% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 77% of Illinois towns.
How West 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 West Chicago is worth $336,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $99,927, which is more affordable than 13% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,469 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Chicago | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $336,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,469 | $960 |
| Median household income | $99,927 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in West Chicago
| People | West Chicago | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 32.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in West Chicago
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Chicago since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 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 178 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 22, 1984.
Severe weather in DuPage County since 1996
DuPage County has been included in 16 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 |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DuPage County
DuPage County had 622,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in West Chicago itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in West Chicago
12 public schools with 6,097 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Chicago Comm High School | 9-12 | 2,074 | 15.1 |
| Leman Middle School | 6-8 | 1,098 | 9.7 |
| Norton Creek Elementary School | K-5 | 506 | 13.0 |
| Gary Elementary School | K-5 | 415 | 12.6 |
| Wegner Elementary School | K-5 | 365 | 10.7 |
| Currier Elementary School | K-5 | 363 | 11.3 |
| Pioneer Elem School | PK-5 | 343 | 10.7 |
| Indian Knoll Elem School | K-5 | 296 | 10.2 |
| Turner Elem School | K-5 | 295 | 10.2 |
| Benjamin Middle School | 5-8 | 250 | 10.9 |
| Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 92 | 7.7 |
| Educare of West DuPage | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near West Chicago
- Winfield, IL3.7 mi · 9,835 people · home $386,300
- Carol Stream, IL4.9 mi · 39,854 people · home $335,000
- St. Charles, IL4.9 mi · 33,081 people · home $377,400
- Bartlett, IL5.1 mi · 41,105 people · home $375,700
- Warrenville, IL5.4 mi · 13,553 people · home $286,100
- Geneva, IL5.6 mi · 21,393 people · home $441,400
- Batavia, IL5.6 mi · 26,098 people · home $387,400
- Wheaton, IL6.4 mi · 53,970 people · home $455,700
West Chicago questions
Is West Chicago, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Chicago scores better for retirees than 21% of Illinois towns and quieter than 20%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in West Chicago?
The median owner-occupied home in West Chicago is valued at $336,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,927, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,469 a month.
What is the weather like in West Chicago?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.2 inches of snow.
Does West Chicago get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Chicago 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)