Palos Heights 74 Excellent
Palos Heights Livability #235 ranked city in Illinois#4,484 ranked city in the USARanks better than 84% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Palos Heights

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.

  • Housing 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.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities 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.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

What's it like Living in Palos Heights?

Palos Heights is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 12,722 residents. With a population density of 3,370 people per square mile, Palos Heights is well above the nation's average density level. According to the most recent Census, 92% of Palos Heights residents are White, 2% Black and 1% Asian. Based on an average age of 52, Palos Heights appears to be well-suited for seniors or retirees as the average age is well above the national average. An important consideration when living in Palos Heights is the longer-than-average commute times. If you seek a short work commute, this area may not be the best choice for you. The one-way commute time here typically takes 30 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Palos Heights can be a fulfilling experience for anyone moving to the city. Having said that, in the state of Illinois, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Palos Heights and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Palos Heights to Illinois and the national average.

With a livability score of 72 out of 100, Palos Heights is ranked #5,258 in the United States and #265 in Illinois. Based on the scores for each individual category, Palos Heights has received high marks for crime (A+), education (B) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Palos Heights scores poorly for, including: amenities (F) and cost of living (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

Low violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, assault) provide a safer environment for residents, reducing the risk of personal harm, property theft or violence. Low crime can also lead to increased property values and desirability. With 62 crimes per 100,000 residents, Palos Heights has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

The Palos Heights unemployment rate of 2.1% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

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, Palos Heights has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Palos 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 Palos Heights. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Palos Heights are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Palos Heights come in at $533,266, which is 72.8% higher than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Palos Heights, the home price to income ratio is 3.9, which is 11.4% higher than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Palos Heights

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Compare Palos Heights, IL Livability

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      Palos Heights transportation information

      Statistic Palos Heights Illinois National
      Average one way commute30min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work74.5%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.3%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit6.3%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.0%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home8.4%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Palos 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.