What are the schools like in Des Plaines, IL?

Des Plaines is served primarily by CCSD 62. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.0:1.

What is the median household income in Des Plaines?

The median household income in Des Plaines, IL is $86,552 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Des Plaines, IL?

Des Plaines has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Des Plaines, IL affordable or expensive?

Des Plaines's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Des Plaines is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $304,100 and the median rent is $1,300 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Des Plaines, IL?

Des Plaines has a violent crime rate of 120.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1139.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Des Plaines, IL a Good Place to Live?

Des Plaines is a mid-sized city of 60,087 in Illinois, with a median household income of $86,552 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Des Plaines stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Des Plaines is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Des Plaines 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

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

Metric	Des Plaines, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$304,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,300	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,552	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Des Plaines's violent crime rate is 120.6 per 100,000 residents — 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

120.6 /100k

Property Crime

1139.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Des Plaines is served primarily by CCSD 62. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Des Plaines, IL	National Avg
School District	CCSD 62	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Des Plaines sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation and 38.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Des Plaines, IL
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	37.9"
Annual Snowfall	38.4"

Demographics

Metric	Des Plaines, IL	National Avg
Population	60,087	—
Median Age	42.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	66.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.1%	18.9%
Asian	13.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.4%	22.2%
65 and over	19.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mount Prospect, IL 3 mi Park Ridge, IL 3 mi Rosemont, IL 3 mi Niles, IL 5 mi Prospect Heights, IL 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Des Plaines

Des Plaines, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60016

Des Plaines vs Other Cities

Des Plaines, IL vs Mount Prospect, IL Des Plaines, IL vs Park Ridge, IL Des Plaines, IL vs Rosemont, IL Des Plaines, IL vs Niles, IL Des Plaines, IL vs Prospect Heights, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Des Plaines, IL affordable or expensive?

Des Plaines's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Des Plaines roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $304,100 and median rent is $1,300/month.

What is the crime rate in Des Plaines, IL?

Des Plaines's violent crime rate is 120.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1139.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Des Plaines?

Public schools in Des Plaines are operated by CCSD 62. The district has 9 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1. 38.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Des Plaines, IL a good place to live?

Des Plaines, IL has a population of 60,087, a median household income of $86,552, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. 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 Des Plaines?

Des Plaines averages 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches with about 38.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Des Plaines?

Des Plaines, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60016.

What is the population of Des Plaines?

The population of Des Plaines, Illinois is 60,087 with a median age of 42.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Des Plaines?

Key numbers for living in Des Plaines: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $304,100, median household income $86,552, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Des Plaines side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.