Chicago Heights 71 Excellent
Chicago Heights Livability #329 ranked city in Illinois#6,791 ranked city in the USARanks better than 76% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Chicago Heights

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.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.

  • 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 Chicago Heights?

Located in the state of Illinois, Chicago Heights is a mid-sized city with a population of 30,540 inhabitants. Individuals of White (35%) and Black or African American (40%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Chicago Heights are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 31% of the population also speak Spanish. In Chicago Heights, only 43% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Chicago Heights your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 28 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to ascertain if living in Chicago Heights is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before relocating to any new city in Illinois, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Chicago Heights, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, commute, health & safety, employment, housing and more.

With a livability score of 69/100, Chicago Heights is ranked #7,876 in the United States and #377 in Illinois. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Chicago Heights has received high marks for cost of living (A-) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Chicago Heights does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (F), crime (F) and education (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Chicago Heights can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Assuming that Chicago Heights meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Chicago Heights. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Chicago Heights are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Chicago Heights come in at $195,538, which is 36.6% lower than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Chicago Heights, the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 25.7% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Chicago Heights

See all the best places to live around Chicago Heights

How Do You Rate The Livability In Chicago Heights?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Chicago Heights, IL Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Chicago Heights transportation information

      Statistic Chicago Heights Illinois National
      Average one way commute28min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.9%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.7%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit6.3%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.2%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home4.2%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Chicago Heights, 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.