The Town FilesPalos Heights, Illinois
City in Cook County · population 12,068 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $367,100
- Household income
- $108,740
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 50.2
Palos Heights is a city of 12,068 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $367,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 89% of Illinois towns, better transit than 85% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights is worth $367,100, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $108,740, which is more affordable than 13% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $2,558 a month. 93.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palos Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $367,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $2,558 | $960 |
| Median household income | $108,740 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 93.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Palos Heights
| People | Palos Heights | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Palos Heights
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 19.5°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palos Heights 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 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 37 deaths and 653 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 126 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 3, 1955.
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 Palos Heights itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Palos Heights
6 public schools with 3,454 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Shepard High Sch (Campus) | 9-12 | 1,960 | 16.2 |
| Palos East Elementary School | K-5 | 703 | 14.6 |
| Chippewa Elem School | 1-3 | 246 | 15.4 |
| Independence Jr High School | 6-8 | 208 | 9.9 |
| Indian Hill | PK-K | 170 | 17.0 |
| Navajo Heights Elem School | 4-5 | 167 | 13.9 |
Towns near Palos Heights
- Worth, IL1.7 mi · 10,970 people · home $215,000
- Palos Park, IL1.7 mi · 4,899 people · home $464,700
- Chicago Ridge, IL2.9 mi · 14,433 people · home $226,900
- Palos Hills, IL3.0 mi · 18,530 people · home $279,200
- Alsip, IL3.1 mi · 19,063 people · home $225,000
- Crestwood, IL3.1 mi · 10,826 people · home $195,200
- Oak Lawn, IL4.1 mi · 58,362 people · home $281,200
- Oak Forest, IL4.5 mi · 27,478 people · home $255,100
Palos Heights questions
Is Palos Heights, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palos Heights scores better for retirees than 73% of Illinois towns and quieter than 38%. 32.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Palos Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Palos Heights is valued at $367,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,740, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $2,558 a month.
What is the weather like in Palos Heights?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 19.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 38.8 inches of snow.
Does Palos Heights get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palos Heights 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)