The Town FilesWheaton, Illinois
City in DuPage County · population 53,970 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $455,700
- Household income
- $120,008
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 53
- Median age
- 36.8
Wheaton is a city of 53,970 people in DuPage County, Illinois. The median home is worth $455,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 96% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 94% of Illinois towns.
How Wheaton 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 Wheaton is worth $455,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $120,008, which is more affordable than 7% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,799 a month. 71.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wheaton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $455,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,799 | $960 |
| Median household income | $120,008 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Wheaton
| People | Wheaton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 25.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 90.4% |
Weather in Wheaton
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 40.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wheaton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 20, 2021 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 156 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in DuPage County since 1996
DuPage County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DuPage County
DuPage County had 622,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Wheaton itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Wheaton
17 public schools with 10,048 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton Warrenville South H S | 9-12 | 1,875 | 15.2 |
| Wheaton North High School | 9-12 | 1,872 | 14.5 |
| Monroe Middle School | 6-8 | 692 | 12.4 |
| Edison Middle School | 6-8 | 656 | 14.3 |
| Franklin Middle School | 6-8 | 538 | 12.0 |
| Briar Glen Elem School | PK-5 | 538 | 22.4 |
| Wiesbrook Elem School | K-5 | 487 | 17.4 |
| Lincoln Elem School | K-5 | 470 | 14.7 |
| Whittier Elem School | K-5 | 407 | 14.5 |
| Carl Sandburg Elem School | K-5 | 402 | 14.4 |
| Washington Elementary School | K-5 | 393 | 13.6 |
| Madison Elem School | PK-5 | 356 | 12.7 |
Towns near Wheaton
- Glen Ellyn, IL2.4 mi · 28,846 people · home $544,000
- Winfield, IL2.8 mi · 9,835 people · home $386,300
- Glendale Heights, IL4.6 mi · 33,176 people · home $261,700
- Carol Stream, IL4.6 mi · 39,854 people · home $335,000
- Lisle, IL4.6 mi · 24,223 people · home $406,800
- Warrenville, IL4.8 mi · 13,553 people · home $286,100
- Lombard, IL4.9 mi · 44,476 people · home $335,700
- Downers Grove, IL6.2 mi · 50,247 people · home $449,800
Wheaton questions
Is Wheaton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wheaton scores better for retirees than 64% of Illinois towns and quieter than 6%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Wheaton?
The median owner-occupied home in Wheaton is valued at $455,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,008, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,799 a month.
What is the weather like in Wheaton?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.2 inches of precipitation a year and 24.3 inches of snow.
Does Wheaton get tornadoes?
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wheaton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 20, 2021. 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)