The Town FilesHarvey, Illinois
City in Cook County · population 20,324 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,100
- Household income
- $42,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 36.6
Harvey is a city of 20,324 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $88,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Illinois towns, better transit than 96% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 94% of Illinois towns.
How Harvey 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 Harvey is worth $88,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $42,429, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $960 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harvey | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $960 | $960 |
| Median household income | $42,429 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harvey
| People | Harvey | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Harvey
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 28.2 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
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harvey since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 6.7 miles from the town center and killed 33. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 35 deaths and 619 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 121 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 Harvey itself the ACS puts it at 13.4%.
Public schools in Harvey
8 public schools with 3,526 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton Township High School | 9-12 | 1,645 | 13.8 |
| Brooks Middle School | 6-8 | 452 | 18.1 |
| Taft School | PK-1 | 337 | 13.5 |
| Bryant Elem School | K-5 | 305 | 16.9 |
| Maya Angelou Elem Sch | K-5 | 234 | 21.3 |
| Whittier Elem School | K-5 | 212 | 15.1 |
| Holmes Elem School | K-5 | 209 | 14.9 |
| Riley Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 132 | 18.9 |
Towns near Harvey
- Dixmoor, IL1.9 mi · 2,973 people · home $84,400
- Markham, IL2.1 mi · 11,661 people · home $135,300
- Posen, IL2.3 mi · 5,632 people · home $172,900
- Riverdale, IL2.6 mi · 10,663 people · home $113,800
- South Holland, IL2.6 mi · 21,465 people · home $217,200
- Hazel Crest, IL3.0 mi · 13,382 people · home $185,300
- Dolton, IL3.3 mi · 21,426 people · home $151,300
- Homewood, IL3.4 mi · 19,463 people · home $221,100
Harvey questions
Is Harvey, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harvey scores better for retirees than 3% of Illinois towns and quieter than 8%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Harvey?
The median owner-occupied home in Harvey is valued at $88,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,429, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $960 a month.
What is the weather like in Harvey?
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 28.2 inches of snow.
Does Harvey get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harvey 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)