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Chicago, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Cook County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
2,707,648 Population 11,889/sq mi density
$75,134 Median Income $48,148 per capita
$315,200 Home Value $312,457 Zillow
$1,380 Median Rent 29.0% income on rent
52°F Avg Temperature 269 sunny days/yr
943 Violent Crime/100K 2,983 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$75,134 median income, 5.3% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.3 / 5.0
$315,200 home value, $1,380/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
943 violent crimes/100K (148% above avg)
A
Education
4.5 / 5.0
43.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Chicago experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 269 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 49.0 inches. The area receives 19.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

32°F Jan (-0°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average51.8°F
4% below US avg
January Average32°F (-0°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days269 days/yr

Geography

Elevation584 ft (178 m)
Area234.1 sq mi (606.4 km²)
Population Density11,889/sq mi
Coordinates41.8370°N, 87.6849°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyCook County County
Nearest AirportChicago Midway International (MDW)
5 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.0"
29% above US avg
Snowfall 19.6"
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.09"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.57"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0460 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)20.6 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)1.33 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.29 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)10.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery High
Risk Score100.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability61.7 / 100
Community Resilience73.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Very High
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Very High
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Very High
Ice Storm Very High
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Very High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Mar 15, 2025.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 109 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 69 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 146 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 12 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 88 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 69 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 70 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 108 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

520 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 84 fatalities, 1,754 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 58 km 29
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 57 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 32 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 52 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 22 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 60 km 1
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 72 km 6
Apr 17, 1963 EF4 81 km 1
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 44 km 0
Jun 22, 2015 EF3 83 km 0
Jun 5, 2010 EF3 86 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 95 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 45 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 62 km 1
Apr 2, 1982 EF3 91 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 61 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 60 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 93 km 1
Jun 20, 1974 EF3 66 km 0
Oct 24, 1967 EF3 50 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 68 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

13 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,741 ac, 2019).

Year Name Acres Distance
2019 UNNAMED 1,741 65 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 63 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,602 95 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 60 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 59 km
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 46 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 59 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 65 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 58 km
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 64 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 47 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 65 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 53 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 32°F (-0°C) 1.8 in
February 28°F (-2°C) 1.6 in Coldest, Driest
March 38°F (3°C) 2.6 in
April 49°F (9°C) 3.8 in
May 60°F (16°C) 3.6 in
June 70°F (21°C) 4.0 in
July 72°F (22°C) 3.7 in
August 73°F (23°C) 4.1 in Warmest, Wettest
September 65°F (18°C) 3.5 in
October 53°F (12°C) 2.7 in
November 40°F (5°C) 3.1 in
December 28°F (-2°C) 2.5 in

Chicago has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 28°F in February to 73°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 37.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (1.6").

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