The Town FilesWestchester, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 16,892 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $327,300
- Household income
- $98,954
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 51.6
Westchester is a village of 16,892 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $327,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 92% of Illinois towns, better transit than 92% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 89% of Illinois towns.
How Westchester 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 Westchester is worth $327,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $98,954, which is more affordable than 15% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,794 a month. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Westchester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,794 | $960 |
| Median household income | $98,954 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Westchester
| People | Westchester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Westchester
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westchester since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 13, 1976 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 113 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 162 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 Westchester itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Westchester
4 public schools with 1,063 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester Primary School | PK-2 | 389 | 16.2 |
| Westchester Middle School | 6-8 | 354 | 11.8 |
| Westchester Intermediate School | 3-5 | 320 | 12.3 |
| PAEC Academy | Other | — | — |
Towns near Westchester
- Hillside, IL1.4 mi · 8,320 people · home $246,800
- La Grange Park, IL1.6 mi · 13,475 people · home $439,800
- Broadview, IL1.9 mi · 7,998 people · home $252,200
- Bellwood, IL2.4 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
- Brookfield, IL2.8 mi · 19,476 people · home $332,400
- Berkeley, IL3.0 mi · 5,338 people · home $246,900
- La Grange, IL3.0 mi · 16,321 people · home $594,300
- Maywood, IL3.2 mi · 23,512 people · home $229,800
Westchester questions
Is Westchester, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Westchester scores better for retirees than 76% of Illinois towns and quieter than 39%. 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Westchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Westchester is valued at $327,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,954, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,794 a month.
What is the weather like in Westchester?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Westchester get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Westchester 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)