What are the schools like in Palos Hills, IL?

Palos Hills is served primarily by North Palos SD 117. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Palos Hills?

The median household income in Palos Hills, IL is $79,306 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Palos Hills, IL?

Palos Hills has an average high temperature of 33.1°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Palos Hills, IL affordable or expensive?

Palos Hills's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Palos Hills is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $241,000 and the median rent is $1,248 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Palos Hills, IL?

Palos Hills has a violent crime rate of 68.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 410.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Palos Hills, IL a Good Place to Live?

Palos Hills is a small city of 18,278 in Illinois, with a median household income of $79,306 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Palos Hills stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Palos Hills is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Palos Hills 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

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

Metric	Palos Hills, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$241,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,248	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,306	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Palos Hills's violent crime rate is 68.4 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

68.4 /100k

Property Crime

410.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Palos Hills is served primarily by North Palos SD 117. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Palos Hills, IL	National Avg
School District	North Palos SD 117	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Palos Hills sees average highs of 33.1°F in January and 89.5°F in July, with 41.4 inches of annual precipitation and 38.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Palos Hills, IL
Average High — January	33.1°F
Average High — July	89.5°F
Annual Precipitation	41.4"
Annual Snowfall	38.8"

Demographics

Metric	Palos Hills, IL	National Avg
Population	18,278	—
Median Age	42.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.7%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hickory Hills, IL 2 mi Worth, IL 2 mi Chicago Ridge, IL 2 mi Palos Park, IL 2 mi Bridgeview, IL 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Palos Hills

Palos Hills, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60465

Palos Hills vs Other Cities

Palos Hills, IL vs Hickory Hills, IL Palos Hills, IL vs Worth, IL Palos Hills, IL vs Chicago Ridge, IL Palos Hills, IL vs Palos Park, IL Palos Hills, IL vs Bridgeview, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palos Hills, IL affordable or expensive?

Palos Hills's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Palos Hills roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $241,000 and median rent is $1,248/month.

What is the crime rate in Palos Hills, IL?

Palos Hills's violent crime rate is 68.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 410.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Palos Hills?

Public schools in Palos Hills are operated by North Palos SD 117. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Palos Hills, IL a good place to live?

Palos Hills, IL has a population of 18,278, a median household income of $79,306, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. 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 Palos Hills?

Palos Hills averages 33.1°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.4 inches with about 38.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Palos Hills?

Palos Hills, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60465.

What is the population of Palos Hills?

The population of Palos Hills, Illinois is 18,278 with a median age of 42.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Palos Hills?

Key numbers for living in Palos Hills: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $241,000, median household income $79,306, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Palos Hills side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.