Is Chicago Ridge, IL a Good Place to Live?
Chicago Ridge is a small city of 14,284 in Illinois, with a median household income of $65,168 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: Chicago Ridge stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Chicago Ridge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Chicago Ridge 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: 102.6Chicago Ridge's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chicago Ridge costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Chicago Ridge, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $203,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $65,168 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageChicago Ridge's violent crime rate is 285.5 per 100,000 residents — 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Chicago Ridge is served primarily by Chicago Ridge SD 127-5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Chicago Ridge, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Chicago Ridge SD 127-5 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 2 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Chicago Ridge 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 | Chicago Ridge, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 32.8°F |
| Average High — July | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | Chicago Ridge, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,284 | — |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 31.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 66.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 7.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.2% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.8% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: