What are the schools like in Blue Island, IL?

Blue Island is served primarily by Cook County SD 130. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Blue Island?

The median household income in Blue Island, IL is $57,537 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 14.4%.

What is the weather like in Blue Island, IL?

Blue Island has an average high temperature of 32.8°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Blue Island, IL affordable or expensive?

Blue Island's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Blue Island is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $164,300 and the median rent is $1,025 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Blue Island, IL?

Blue Island has a violent crime rate of 434.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2686.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Blue Island, IL a Good Place to Live?

Blue Island is a small city of 22,934 in Illinois, with a median household income of $57,537 and a 14.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Blue Island stands out for below-average home prices.

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

All Blue Island 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

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

Metric	Blue Island, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$164,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,025	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,537	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Blue Island's violent crime rate is 434.4 per 100,000 residents — 14% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

434.4 /100k

Property Crime

2686.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Blue Island is served primarily by Cook County SD 130. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Blue Island, IL	National Avg
School District	Cook County SD 130	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	77.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Blue Island sees average highs of 32.8°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 40.3 inches of annual precipitation and 38.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Blue Island, IL
Average High — January	32.8°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	40.3"
Annual Snowfall	38.8"

Demographics

Metric	Blue Island, IL	National Avg
Population	22,934	—
Median Age	36.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	14.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	45.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	33.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	19.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	22.6%	22.2%
65 and over	12.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Calumet Park, IL 1 mi Robbins, IL 2 mi Dixmoor, IL 2 mi Merrionette Park, IL 2 mi Posen, IL 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Blue Island

Blue Island, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60406

Blue Island vs Other Cities

Blue Island, IL vs Calumet Park, IL Blue Island, IL vs Robbins, IL Blue Island, IL vs Dixmoor, IL Blue Island, IL vs Merrionette Park, IL Blue Island, IL vs Posen, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blue Island, IL affordable or expensive?

Blue Island's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Blue Island roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $164,300 and median rent is $1,025/month.

What is the crime rate in Blue Island, IL?

Blue Island's violent crime rate is 434.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2686.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Blue Island?

Public schools in Blue Island are operated by Cook County SD 130. The district has 7 elementary, 4 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Blue Island, IL a good place to live?

Blue Island, IL has a population of 22,934, a median household income of $57,537, and an unemployment rate of 14.4%. 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 Blue Island?

Blue Island averages 32.8°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.3 inches with about 38.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Blue Island?

Blue Island, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60406.

What is the population of Blue Island?

The population of Blue Island, Illinois is 22,934 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Blue Island?

Key numbers for living in Blue Island: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $164,300, median household income $57,537, crime index 120 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Blue Island side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.