North Chicago 74 Excellent
North Chicago Livability #211 ranked city in Illinois#3,995 ranked city in the USARanks better than 86% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in North Chicago

PROS
  • Commute

    An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.

  • Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

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What's it like Living in North Chicago?

Located in the state of Illinois, North Chicago is a mid-sized city with a population of 29,967 residents. North Chicago has a population density of 3,748 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. North Chicago is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (44%) and Black or African American (26%). Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of North Chicago are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 26% of the population also speak Spanish. North Chicago could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 24 years old is below the nation’s average. North Chicago is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 33%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in North Chicago. With an average one way commute time of only 18 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in North Chicago could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Illinois if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in North Chicago and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from crime, commute, health & safety, employment, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Illinois and national averages.

The livability score in North Chicago is 72/100 and the city is ranked in the 83rd percentile of all cities across America. If we take a closer look at each of the categories on their own, we see that North Chicago ranks well for cost of living (B+) and housing (B). North Chicago does not do well for the following: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (D). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. North Chicago excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in North Chicago. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in North Chicago are affordable. The median home price for North Chicago homes is $107,900, which is 38.3% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in North Chicago, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 23.3% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around North Chicago

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How Do You Rate The Livability In North Chicago?

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Compare North Chicago, IL Livability

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      North Chicago transportation information

      Statistic North Chicago Illinois National
      Average one way commute18min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work44.1%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.8%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.0%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk22.3%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home19.2%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The North Chicago, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).