Is Ford Heights, IL a Good Place to Live?
Ford Heights is a small town of 1,618 in Illinois, with a median household income of $43,086 and a 11.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: Ford Heights stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ford Heights is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ford Heights 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: 102.6Ford Heights's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ford Heights costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Ford Heights, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $42,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $960 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $43,086 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageFord Heights's violent crime rate is 347.2 per 100,000 residents — 9% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ford Heights is served primarily by Ford Heights SD 169. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Ford Heights, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Ford Heights SD 169 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.3% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 88.7% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Ford Heights sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 40.9 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Ford Heights, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 31.1°F |
| Average High — July | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Ford Heights, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,618 | — |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.2% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 25.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2.2% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 93.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 16.7% | 16.8% |