The Town FilesHighland Park, Illinois
City in Lake County · population 30,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $607,300
- Household income
- $168,094
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 45.0
Highland Park is a city of 30,176 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $607,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Illinois towns, hipper than 91% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 90% of Illinois towns.
How Highland Park 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 Highland Park is worth $607,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $168,094, which is more affordable than 9% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,925 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $607,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,925 | $960 |
| Median household income | $168,094 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland Park
| People | Highland Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 26.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Highland Park
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 116 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 1967.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 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 |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Highland Park itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Highland Park
11 public schools with 4,951 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park High School | 9-12 | 1,715 | 12.7 |
| Edgewood Middle School | 6-8 | 659 | 11.4 |
| Northwood Middle School | 6-8 | 532 | 10.9 |
| Indian Trail Elem School | K-5 | 491 | 12.6 |
| Wayne Thomas Elem School | K-5 | 442 | 13.4 |
| Sherwood Elem School | K-5 | 354 | 9.6 |
| Ravinia Elem School | K-5 | 281 | 14.1 |
| Braeside Elem School | K-5 | 272 | 13.0 |
| Red Oak Elem School | K-5 | 205 | 9.8 |
| North Shore Academy | 6-12 | — | — |
| Arbor Academy | Other | — | — |
Towns near Highland Park
- Highwood, IL1.6 mi · 5,074 people · home $405,400
- Deerfield, IL2.4 mi · 19,196 people · home $623,400
- Northbrook, IL3.9 mi · 35,222 people · home $652,300
- Glencoe, IL4.1 mi · 8,849 people · home $1,432,500
- Riverwoods, IL4.4 mi · 3,790 people · home $800,700
- Lake Forest, IL4.4 mi · 19,367 people · home $938,300
- Lincolnshire, IL5.6 mi · 7,940 people · home $677,700
- Northfield, IL5.7 mi · 5,751 people · home $878,300
Highland Park questions
Is Highland Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland Park scores better for retirees than 87% of Illinois towns and quieter than 32%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Highland Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland Park is valued at $607,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $168,094, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,925 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland Park?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Highland Park get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. 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)