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Ford Heights, IL
Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County
2.5
/5.0
C+
Fair
1,587
Population
778/sq mi density
$34,323
Median Income
$15,823 per capita
$48,000
Home Value
$86,191 Zillow
$924
Median Rent
33.0% income on rent
53°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
796
Violent Crime/100K
4,679 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.1 / 5.0
$34,323 median income, 4.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$48,000 home value, $924/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
796 violent crimes/100K (109% above avg)
D
Education
1.7 / 5.0
8.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Ford Heights experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°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. The area receives 38.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-3°C)
77°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 52.5°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 26°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 632 ft (193 m) |
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (1.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 778/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.5109°N, 87.5814°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Lake County County |
| Nearest Airport | Gary/Chicago International (GYY) 11 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0452 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 13.8 ppb |
| SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide) | 1.37 ppb |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 10.3 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 48.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 73.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very High |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Very High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
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 | 62 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.7 in | Coldest |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.5 in | Driest |
| March | 38°F (3°C) | 2.7 in | |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 3.9 in | |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 4.2 in | Wettest |
| July | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 3.8 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 3.6 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.8 in | |
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 3.2 in | |
| December | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.6 in |
Ford Heights has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 26°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 37.7 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (1.5").