The Town FilesElmhurst, Illinois
City in DuPage County · population 45,786 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $545,400
- Household income
- $149,644
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 51
- Median age
- 42.0
Elmhurst is a city of 45,786 people in DuPage County, Illinois. The median home is worth $545,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 95% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Illinois towns.
How Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst is worth $545,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $149,644, which is more affordable than 9% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,975 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmhurst | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $545,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,975 | $960 |
| Median household income | $149,644 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Elmhurst
| People | Elmhurst | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.0% | — |
| Work from home | 26.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Elmhurst
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
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmhurst since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 about 4.4 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 177 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in DuPage County since 1996
DuPage County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DuPage County
DuPage County had 622,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Elmhurst itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Elmhurst
14 public schools with 8,487 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Comm High School | 9-12 | 2,677 | 14.7 |
| Bryan Middle School | 6-8 | 689 | 13.5 |
| Sandburg Middle School | 6-8 | 621 | 12.9 |
| Hawthorne Elem School | K-5 | 596 | 14.9 |
| Lincoln Elem School | K-5 | 530 | 18.3 |
| Churchville Middle School | 6-8 | 497 | 10.1 |
| Emerson Elem School | K-5 | 450 | 14.1 |
| Field Elem School | K-5 | 440 | 15.7 |
| Jackson Elem School | K-5 | 439 | 13.3 |
| Conrad Fischer Elem School | K-5 | 438 | 9.7 |
| Jefferson Elem School | K-5 | 335 | 11.6 |
| Edison Elem School | K-5 | 327 | 13.1 |
Towns near Elmhurst
- Berkeley, IL1.7 mi · 5,338 people · home $246,900
- Villa Park, IL1.9 mi · 22,263 people · home $329,000
- Northlake, IL2.3 mi · 12,840 people · home $259,800
- Hillside, IL3.0 mi · 8,320 people · home $246,800
- Stone Park, IL3.3 mi · 4,576 people · home $242,100
- Oakbrook Terrace, IL3.3 mi · 2,751 people · home $372,400
- Bellwood, IL3.6 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
- Lombard, IL4.0 mi · 44,476 people · home $335,700
Elmhurst questions
Is Elmhurst, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmhurst scores better for retirees than 39% of Illinois towns and quieter than 8%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Elmhurst?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmhurst is valued at $545,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $149,644, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,975 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmhurst?
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 Elmhurst get tornadoes?
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmhurst 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)