Is North Chicago, IL a Good Place to Live?
North Chicago is a small city of 30,890 in Illinois, with a median household income of $52,011 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: North Chicago stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether North Chicago is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All North Chicago 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: 102.6North Chicago's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in North Chicago costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | North Chicago, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $130,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 31.7% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $52,011 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeNorth Chicago's violent crime rate is 178.1 per 100,000 residents — 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
North Chicago is served primarily by North Chicago SD 187. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | North Chicago, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | North Chicago SD 187 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 80.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
North Chicago sees average highs of 29.8°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation and 43.1 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | North Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 29.8°F |
| Average High — July | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 43.1" |
Demographics
| Metric | North Chicago, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,890 | — |
| Median Age | 23.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 16.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 41.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 25.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 6.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in North Chicago
North Chicago, IL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: