Bellwood 76 Exceptional
Bellwood Livability #161 ranked city in Illinois#3,238 ranked city in the USARanks better than 88% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Bellwood

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Bellwood?

Located in the state of Illinois, Bellwood is a moderately-sized city with a population of 19,287 residents. In Bellwood, there are 8,042 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. In Bellwood, the most common ethnic group is Black or African American with a total of 73%. This is followed by 13% White and 1% Asian ethnic groups. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Bellwood, only 43% of the population is married. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Bellwood, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 28 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Bellwood 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 Bellwood and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from amenities, cost of living, commute, employment, 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 Bellwood is 75/100 and the city is ranked in the 87th percentile of all cities across America. Based on this score, Bellwood would be considered a very livable city! For each of the livability categories, we see that Bellwood ranks very well for cost of living (B) and employment (B). There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Bellwood. The following was graded with a disappointing score: amenities (F) and education (F).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Bellwood has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Bellwood is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Bellwood come in at $293,336, which is 4.9% lower than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Bellwood, the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 11.4% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Bellwood

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Compare Bellwood, IL Livability

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      Bellwood transportation information

      Statistic Bellwood Illinois National
      Average one way commute28min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.0%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.1%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit7.8%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.9%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home1.8%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Bellwood, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.