Is West Chicago, IL a Good Place to Live?
West Chicago is a small city of 25,632 in Illinois, with a median household income of $92,335 and a 10.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: West Chicago stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Chicago is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West 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: 102.6West Chicago's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Chicago costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | West Chicago, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $297,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $92,335 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Chicago's violent crime rate is 184.2 per 100,000 residents — 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Chicago is served primarily by West Chicago ESD 33. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Chicago, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | West Chicago ESD 33 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 80.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Chicago sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 33.2 inches of annual precipitation and 46.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 30.5°F |
| Average High — July | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 46.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Chicago, IL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,632 | — |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 49.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 3.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 10.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 9.7% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Chicago
West Chicago, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: