At a Glance
Median Income
$34,323
$15,823 per capita
Home Value
$48,000
Zillow: $86,191
Median Rent
$924/mo
33.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
796/100K
4,679/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
8.9%
87.5% high school+
Unemployment
4.4%
36.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.6%
15.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Ford Heights Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Ford Heights's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Ford Heights a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.5 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Ford Heights residents earn a median household income of $34,323 , which is 54% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $15,823. The unemployment rate stands at 4.4% (22% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 36.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 11,872 business establishments, including 1,110 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Ford Heights is $48,000 , 83% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $86,191. Median rent is $924/month, with 33.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1965.
Safety & Crime
Ford Heights reports 796 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 109% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,679/100K.
Education
8.9% of adults in Ford Heights hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(74% below the national average).
87.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Ford Heights has an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C).
Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 40.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population1,587
Median Age41.9 yrs
Density778/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.6%
Economy
C
Median Income$34,323
Per Capita$15,823
Unemployment4.4%
Poverty36.5%
County GDP$31,242M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,177
Housing
A+
Home Value$48,000
Rent$924
Ownership43.9%
Zillow$86,191
Housing Units817
Rent Burden33.0%
Crime
F
Violent796/100K
Property4,679/100K
Health
Obesity41.6%
Diabetes15.4%
Smoking15.9%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death10,981/100K
Climate
Avg Temp53°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain40.9 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation632 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+8.9%
High School+87.5%
Graduate+1.9%
School Score6.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 46% / D 52%
Commute28 min
Broadband76.0%
Internet Speed110 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries26
Did You Know?
The median home in Ford Heights was built in 1965.
11.8% of residents use public transit to commute.
The nearest airport is Gary/Chicago International (11 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.453 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
23.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 110 Mbps.
There are 1,110 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 53 fatal vehicle crashes.
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