The Town FilesBerkeley, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 5,338 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,900
- Household income
- $85,823
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 50
- Median age
- 33.6
Berkeley is a village of 5,338 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $246,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Illinois towns, better transit than 98% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Berkeley ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berkeley is worth $246,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $85,823, which is more affordable than 24% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,434 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berkeley | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,434 | $960 |
| Median household income | $85,823 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Berkeley
| People | Berkeley | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 1.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Berkeley
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berkeley since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 about 5.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 105 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 179 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Cook County since 1996
Cook County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| November 20, 2023 | Flood | DR-4749: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cook County
Cook County had 2,565,567 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $86,931 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Berkeley itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Berkeley
2 public schools with 732 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacArthur Middle School | 6-8 | 374 | 13.4 |
| Sunnyside Intermediate School | 3-5 | 358 | 11.5 |
Towns near Berkeley
- Hillside, IL1.6 mi · 8,320 people · home $246,800
- Elmhurst, IL1.7 mi · 45,786 people · home $545,400
- Northlake, IL1.8 mi · 12,840 people · home $259,800
- Stone Park, IL1.9 mi · 4,576 people · home $242,100
- Bellwood, IL1.9 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
- Melrose Park, IL2.6 mi · 24,796 people · home $275,800
- Westchester, IL3.0 mi · 16,892 people · home $327,300
- Villa Park, IL3.4 mi · 22,263 people · home $329,000
Berkeley questions
Is Berkeley, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berkeley scores better for retirees than 20% of Illinois towns and quieter than 20%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Berkeley?
The median owner-occupied home in Berkeley is valued at $246,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,823, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,434 a month.
What is the weather like in Berkeley?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Berkeley get tornadoes?
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berkeley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 1976. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)