The Town FilesWood Dale, Illinois
City in DuPage County · population 14,012 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $318,900
- Household income
- $91,382
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 55
- Median age
- 42.3
Wood Dale is a city of 14,012 people in DuPage County, Illinois. The median home is worth $318,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 89% of Illinois towns, better transit than 85% of Illinois towns.
How Wood Dale 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 Wood Dale is worth $318,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $91,382, which is more affordable than 11% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,675 a month. 77.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wood Dale | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $318,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,675 | $960 |
| Median household income | $91,382 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wood Dale
| People | Wood Dale | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Wood Dale
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
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wood Dale since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 125 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 180 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 5, 2010.
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 Wood Dale itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Wood Dale
5 public schools with 912 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westview Elem School | 3-5 | 286 | 13.0 |
| Wood Dale Jr High School | 6-8 | 283 | 10.1 |
| Oakbrook Elem School | K-2 | 257 | 10.7 |
| Early Childhood Education Center | PK-PK | 86 | 14.3 |
| ECSE AM/PM-Wood Dale Dist 7 | Other | — | — |
Towns near Wood Dale
- Bensenville, IL2.0 mi · 18,813 people · home $272,000
- Itasca, IL2.1 mi · 9,543 people · home $390,800
- Elk Grove Village, IL2.7 mi · 32,812 people · home $347,100
- Addison, IL2.9 mi · 35,702 people · home $341,300
- Elmhurst, IL5.2 mi · 45,786 people · home $545,400
- Northlake, IL5.3 mi · 12,840 people · home $259,800
- Roselle, IL5.5 mi · 22,897 people · home $344,700
- Villa Park, IL5.6 mi · 22,263 people · home $329,000
Wood Dale questions
Is Wood Dale, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wood Dale scores better for retirees than 22% of Illinois towns and quieter than 16%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Wood Dale?
The median owner-occupied home in Wood Dale is valued at $318,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,382, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,675 a month.
What is the weather like in Wood Dale?
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 Wood Dale get tornadoes?
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wood Dale 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)