The Town FilesHillside, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 8,320 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,800
- Household income
- $72,320
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 50
- Median age
- 45.5
Hillside is a village of 8,320 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $246,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better transit than 98% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 96% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 86% of Illinois towns.
How Hillside 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 Hillside is worth $246,800, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $72,320, which is more affordable than 13% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,320 a month. 65.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillside | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,800 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,320 | $960 |
| Median household income | $72,320 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillside
| People | Hillside | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Hillside
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 Hillside since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 13, 1976 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 123 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 172 times; the largest was 4.80 inches on March 10, 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 Hillside itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Hillside
2 public schools with 2,324 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proviso West High School | 9-12 | 1,869 | 18.5 |
| Hillside Elem School | PK-8 | 455 | 10.8 |
Towns near Hillside
- Westchester, IL1.4 mi · 16,892 people · home $327,300
- Berkeley, IL1.6 mi · 5,338 people · home $246,900
- Bellwood, IL1.7 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
- Broadview, IL2.4 mi · 7,998 people · home $252,200
- Stone Park, IL2.7 mi · 4,576 people · home $242,100
- La Grange Park, IL3.0 mi · 13,475 people · home $439,800
- Elmhurst, IL3.0 mi · 45,786 people · home $545,400
- Maywood, IL3.1 mi · 23,512 people · home $229,800
Hillside questions
Is Hillside, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillside scores better for retirees than 12% of Illinois towns and quieter than 9%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Hillside?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillside is valued at $246,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,320, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,320 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillside?
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 Hillside get tornadoes?
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 13, 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)