What are the schools like in Bellwood, IL?

Bellwood is served primarily by Bellwood SD 88. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Bellwood?

The median household income in Bellwood, IL is $72,228 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.2%.

What is the weather like in Bellwood, IL?

Bellwood has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.3 inches.

Bellwood, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bellwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Bellwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bellwood is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $207,100 and the median rent is $1,140 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bellwood, IL?

Bellwood has a violent crime rate of 306.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1197.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bellwood, IL a Good Place to Live?

Bellwood is a small city of 18,611 in Illinois, with a median household income of $72,228 and a 8.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Bellwood stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bellwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bellwood city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Bellwood's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bellwood costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Bellwood, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$207,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,140	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,228	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Bellwood's violent crime rate is 306.4 per 100,000 residents — 19% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

306.4 /100k

Property Crime

1197.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bellwood is served primarily by Bellwood SD 88. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bellwood, IL	National Avg
School District	Bellwood SD 88	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bellwood sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation and 42.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bellwood, IL
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	38.6"
Annual Snowfall	42.3"

Demographics

Metric	Bellwood, IL	National Avg
Population	18,611	—
Median Age	36.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	7.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	71.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.3%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Stone Park, IL 1 mi Melrose Park, IL 2 mi Maywood, IL 2 mi Hillside, IL 2 mi Berkeley, IL 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Bellwood

Bellwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60104

Bellwood vs Other Cities

Bellwood, IL vs Stone Park, IL Bellwood, IL vs Melrose Park, IL Bellwood, IL vs Maywood, IL Bellwood, IL vs Hillside, IL Bellwood, IL vs Berkeley, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bellwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Bellwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Bellwood roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $207,100 and median rent is $1,140/month.

What is the crime rate in Bellwood, IL?

Bellwood's violent crime rate is 306.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1197.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bellwood?

Public schools in Bellwood are operated by Bellwood SD 88. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bellwood, IL a good place to live?

Bellwood, IL has a population of 18,611, a median household income of $72,228, and an unemployment rate of 8.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bellwood?

Bellwood averages 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.6 inches with about 42.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bellwood?

Bellwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60104.

What is the population of Bellwood?

The population of Bellwood, Illinois is 18,611 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bellwood?

Key numbers for living in Bellwood: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $207,100, median household income $72,228, crime index 71 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bellwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.