The Town FilesWestern Springs, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 13,629 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $739,400
- Household income
- $230,255
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 41.6
Western Springs is a village of 13,629 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $739,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 99% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 97% of Illinois towns.
How Western Springs 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 Western Springs is worth $739,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $230,255, which is more affordable than 17% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $2,006 a month. 95.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Western Springs | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $739,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $2,006 | $960 |
| Median household income | $230,255 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 95.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Western Springs
| People | Western Springs | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 32.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 83.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 31.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Western Springs
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Western Springs 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 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 37 deaths and 632 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 167 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 Western Springs itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Western Springs
4 public schools with 1,437 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McClure Jr High School | 6-8 | 448 | 10.9 |
| John Laidlaw Elem School | K-5 | 420 | 12.7 |
| Forest Hills Elem School | PK-5 | 296 | 11.8 |
| Field Park Elem School | K-5 | 273 | 11.9 |
Towns near Western Springs
- La Grange, IL1.4 mi · 16,321 people · home $594,300
- Hinsdale, IL1.4 mi · 17,395 people · home $1,053,700
- Countryside, IL2.3 mi · 6,420 people · home $324,700
- Indian Head Park, IL2.3 mi · 4,065 people · home $356,600
- La Grange Park, IL2.4 mi · 13,475 people · home $439,800
- Clarendon Hills, IL2.9 mi · 8,702 people · home $605,800
- Brookfield, IL3.2 mi · 19,476 people · home $332,400
- Willowbrook, IL3.2 mi · 9,236 people · home $358,600
Western Springs questions
Is Western Springs, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Western Springs scores better for retirees than 54% of Illinois towns and quieter than 22%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Western Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Western Springs is valued at $739,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $230,255, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $2,006 a month.
What is the weather like in Western Springs?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Western Springs get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Western Springs 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)