Palos Park 82 Exceptional
Palos Park Livability #79 ranked city in Illinois#1,280 ranked city in the USARanks better than 95% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Palos Park

PROS
  • Commute Commute

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

  • 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.

  • Schools Schools

    The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this 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.

What's it like Living in Palos Park?

Palos Park is a small-sized city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 4,875 residents. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (92% White). Given that fact, Palos Park could be considered less diverse than other cities. In Palos Park, there seems to be a shift in population towards an older age group. The average age of the population is now 59, which is significantly higher than the nation’s average. If you are looking for a family friendly city, Palos Park might be a good fit as 78% of the population over 15 years old are married, and 28% have kids who are 18 years old or younger. An important consideration when living in Palos Park 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 32 minutes, far surpassing the national average of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to decide if living in Palos Park is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving 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. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, commute, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Palos Park and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Palos Park to Illinois and the national average.

Using data and statistics Palos Park has received a livability score of 79 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 93rd percentile when compared to all other cities. Based on this score, Palos Park would be considered a very livable city! The cherry on top is that Palos Park also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Palos Park ranks very well for crime (A+), education (A-) and housing (A+). Palos Park does not do well for the following: amenities (F) and cost of living (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Palos Park gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 0 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.

Unemployment rates can vary significantly among cities, impacting job prospects, wage levels and the overall economic health of an area. In Palos Park, the unemployment rate stands at 1.2%, suggesting increased job opportunities and a heightened demand for workers. This scenario can lead to higher wages, as the demand for employees outpaces job availability. Importantly, a low unemployment rate often signifies a robust and flourishing local economy.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Palos Park 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.

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 Palos Park is actually affordable. The median home price for Palos Park homes is $705,821, which is 128.7% higher than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Palos Park, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.1, which is 17.1% higher than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Palos Park

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Compare Palos Park, IL Livability

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      Palos Park transportation information

      Statistic Palos Park Illinois National
      Average one way commute32min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.2%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool4.9%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit7.0%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.0%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home7.3%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Palos Park, 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.