What are the schools like in Wheeling, IL?

Wheeling is served primarily by Wheeling CCSD 21. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Wheeling?

The median household income in Wheeling, IL is $80,054 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Wheeling, IL?

Wheeling has an average high temperature of 31.9°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Wheeling, IL affordable or expensive?

Wheeling's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wheeling is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $237,000 and the median rent is $1,474 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wheeling, IL?

Wheeling has a violent crime rate of 61.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 907.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wheeling, IL a Good Place to Live?

Wheeling is a small city of 38,823 in Illinois, with a median household income of $80,054 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Wheeling stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wheeling is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wheeling 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

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

Metric	Wheeling, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$237,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,474	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,054	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Wheeling's violent crime rate is 61.7 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

61.7 /100k

Property Crime

907.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wheeling is served primarily by Wheeling CCSD 21. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wheeling, IL	National Avg
School District	Wheeling CCSD 21	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wheeling sees average highs of 31.9°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 32.3 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wheeling, IL
Average High — January	31.9°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	32.3"
Annual Snowfall	33.6"

Demographics

Metric	Wheeling, IL	National Avg
Population	38,823	—
Median Age	39.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	54.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	24.9%	18.9%
Asian	16.7%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	17.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Prospect Heights, IL 2 mi Buffalo Grove, IL 3 mi Riverwoods, IL 3 mi Arlington Heights, IL 4 mi Deerfield, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Wheeling

Wheeling, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60090

Wheeling vs Other Cities

Wheeling, IL vs Prospect Heights, IL Wheeling, IL vs Buffalo Grove, IL Wheeling, IL vs Riverwoods, IL Wheeling, IL vs Arlington Heights, IL Wheeling, IL vs Deerfield, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wheeling, IL affordable or expensive?

Wheeling's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wheeling roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $237,000 and median rent is $1,474/month.

What is the crime rate in Wheeling, IL?

Wheeling's violent crime rate is 61.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 907.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wheeling?

Public schools in Wheeling are operated by Wheeling CCSD 21. The district has 9 elementary, 3 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 40.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wheeling, IL a good place to live?

Wheeling, IL has a population of 38,823, a median household income of $80,054, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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 Wheeling?

Wheeling averages 31.9°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.3 inches with about 33.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wheeling?

Wheeling, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60090.

What is the population of Wheeling?

The population of Wheeling, Illinois is 38,823 with a median age of 39.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wheeling?

Key numbers for living in Wheeling: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $237,000, median household income $80,054, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wheeling side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.