The Town FilesUniversity Park, Illinois
Village in Will County · population 7,145 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $153,200
- Household income
- $73,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 32.1
University Park is a village of 7,145 people in Will County, Illinois. The median home is worth $153,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Illinois towns, better transit than 88% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Illinois towns.
How University 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 University Park is worth $153,200, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $73,844, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,649 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | University Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,649 | $960 |
| Median household income | $73,844 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in University Park
| People | University Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 39.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in University Park
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
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of University Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1961 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 109 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 10, 2020.
Severe weather in Will County since 1996
Will County has been included in 19 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 |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Will County
Will County had 263,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,570 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in University Park itself the ACS puts it at 15.9%.
Public schools in University Park
2 public schools with 1,259 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crete-Monee Middle School | 6-8 | 983 | 11.2 |
| Coretta Scott King Magnet Sch | K-5 | 276 | 13.1 |
Towns near University Park
- Park Forest, IL2.8 mi · 21,687 people · home $115,300
- Richton Park, IL2.8 mi · 12,775 people · home $220,900
- Monee, IL2.8 mi · 5,128 people · home $240,500
- Crete, IL4.6 mi · 8,465 people · home $228,500
- Matteson, IL4.6 mi · 19,073 people · home $250,600
- South Chicago Heights, IL4.7 mi · 4,026 people · home $149,300
- Steger, IL5.2 mi · 9,584 people · home $156,700
- Olympia Fields, IL5.3 mi · 4,718 people · home $329,000
University Park questions
Is University Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, University Park scores better for retirees than 7% of Illinois towns and quieter than 15%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in University Park?
The median owner-occupied home in University Park is valued at $153,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,844, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,649 a month.
What is the weather like in University Park?
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 University Park get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of University Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1961. 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)