Ford Heights, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County

2.7 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,587 Population 778/sq mi density
$34,323 Median Income $15,823 per capita
$48,000 Home Value $104,724 Zillow
$924 Median Rent 33.0% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Economy
1.3 / 5.0
$34,323 median income, 11.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$48,000 home value, $924/mo rent
D
Education
1.7 / 5.0
8.9% bachelor's degree or higher

Ford Heights, IL

At a Glance

Median Income
$34,323
54% below
$15,823 per capita
Home Value
$48,000
83% below
Zillow: $104,724
Median Rent
$924/mo
21% below
33.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
8.9%
74% below
87.5% high school+
Unemployment
11.0%
206% above
36.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.6%
30% above
15.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F

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)

Income
46%
Home Value
17%
Rent
79%
Poverty
294%
Bachelor's
26%
Unemployment
306%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Ford Heights a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.7 / 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 11.0% (206% 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 $104,724. 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.

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 50°F (10°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 40.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Data Overview

People

Population1,587
Median Age41.9 yrs
Density778/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans7.6%

Economy

F
Median Income$34,323
Per Capita$15,823
Unemployment11.0%
Poverty36.5%
County GDP$31,242M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,177

Housing

A+
Home Value$48,000
Rent$924
Ownership43.9%
Zillow$104,724
Housing Units817
Rent Burden33.0%

Health

Obesity41.6%
Diabetes15.4%
Smoking15.9%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death10,981/100K

Climate

Avg Temp50°F
Rain40.3 in/yr
AQI40 (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.
27.9% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 110 Mbps.
There are 1,110 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 53 fatal vehicle crashes.