The Town FilesDolton, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 21,426 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,300
- Household income
- $57,887
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 40.3
Dolton is a village of 21,426 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $151,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns, better transit than 95% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Dolton 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 Dolton is worth $151,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $57,887, which is more affordable than 35% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,384 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dolton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,384 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,887 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dolton
| People | Dolton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Dolton
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dolton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 6.0 miles from the town center and killed 33. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 33 deaths and 526 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 13, 2015.
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 Dolton itself the ACS puts it at 12.8%.
Public schools in Dolton
11 public schools with 2,935 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornridge High School | 9-12 | 978 | 15.5 |
| Berger-Vandenberg Elem School | K-6 | 348 | 20.5 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-6 | 328 | 14.3 |
| Diekman Elem School | PK-6 | 301 | 23.2 |
| Franklin Elementary School | K-6 | 269 | 14.2 |
| Roosevelt Elem School | K-6 | 240 | 12.6 |
| Early Childhood Cntr | PK-PK | 186 | 15.5 |
| Lincoln Junior High School | 7-8 | 158 | 12.2 |
| Roosevelt Junior High School | 7-8 | 127 | 12.7 |
| PEACE Center | 9-12 | — | — |
| Academy for Learning | Other | — | — |
Towns near Dolton
- Riverdale, IL2.2 mi · 10,663 people · home $113,800
- South Holland, IL2.2 mi · 21,465 people · home $217,200
- Burnham, IL2.8 mi · 4,046 people · home $161,300
- Harvey, IL3.3 mi · 20,324 people · home $88,100
- Dixmoor, IL3.6 mi · 2,973 people · home $84,400
- Calumet City, IL3.8 mi · 36,033 people · home $145,200
- Calumet Park, IL4.0 mi · 7,025 people · home $184,700
- Posen, IL4.6 mi · 5,632 people · home $172,900
Dolton questions
Is Dolton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dolton scores better for retirees than 4% of Illinois towns and quieter than 5%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Dolton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dolton is valued at $151,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,887, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,384 a month.
What is the weather like in Dolton?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Dolton get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dolton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. 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)