Wheeling 71 Excellent
Wheeling Livability #335 ranked city in Illinois#6,685 ranked city in the USARanks better than 77% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Wheeling

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Wheeling?

Wheeling, Illinois is a mid-sized city with a population of 39,851 people. In Wheeling, there are 4,595 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. More than a quarter of the residents of Wheeling identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 26% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Wheeling, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 25 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Wheeling could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Illinois if you know where to search. 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. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Wheeling and in the areas around Wheeling is a much easier task.

The livability score in Wheeling is 69/100 and the city is ranked in the 71st percentile of all cities across America. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Wheeling has higher than average grades for the following: crime (A), employment (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Wheeling scores poorly for, including: amenities (F) and education (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, Wheeling has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Wheeling has an unemployment rate of 2.6% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving 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, Wheeling has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Wheeling. 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 Wheeling are affordable. The median home price for Wheeling homes is $359,378, which is 16.5% higher than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Wheeling, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.4, which is 2.9% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Wheeling

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Compare Wheeling, IL Livability

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      Wheeling transportation information

      Statistic Wheeling Illinois National
      Average one way commute25min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work74.6%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool12.6%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.9%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.6%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home5.9%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Wheeling, 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.