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Highland Park, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County

3.9 /5.0
B+ Good
30,229 Population 2,472/sq mi density
$161,875 Median Income $96,970 per capita
$594,400 Home Value $740,126 Zillow
$1,903 Median Rent 35.3% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
98 Violent Crime/100K 696 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$161,875 median income, 2.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$594,400 home value, $1,903/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
98 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
76.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Highland Park experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.5 inches. The area receives 33.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

24°F Jan (-4°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average49.6°F
8% below US avg
January Average24°F (-4°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation653 ft (199 m)
Area12.2 sq mi (31.7 km²)
Population Density2,472/sq mi
Coordinates42.1824°N, 87.8108°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportChicago O'Hare International (ORD)
15 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 39.5"
4% above US avg
Snowfall 33.6"
Wettest Month (Aug) 3.98"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.38"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0480 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score96.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability14.1 / 100
Community Resilience78.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very 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 M4.2 121 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 62 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 144 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 43 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 96 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 46 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 62 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 135 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

470 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 103 fatalities, 2,143 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 72 km 29
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 100 km 1
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 81 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 59 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 12 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 92 km 24
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 57 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 38 km 1
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 47 km 6
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 58 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 59 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 87 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 71 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 82 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 76 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 88 km 0
Oct 24, 1967 EF3 86 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 76 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 57 km 0
Apr 23, 1961 EF3 99 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 94 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

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

Year Name Acres Distance
2019 UNNAMED 1,741 94 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 94 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 93 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 91 km
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 81 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 91 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 95 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 90 km
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 25 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 81 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 95 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 84 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 24°F (-4°C) 1.7 in Coldest
February 28°F (-2°C) 1.4 in Driest
March 35°F (2°C) 2.4 in
April 45°F (7°C) 3.6 in
May 55°F (13°C) 3.4 in
June 65°F (18°C) 3.6 in
July 73°F (23°C) 3.5 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 4.0 in Wettest
September 63°F (17°C) 3.6 in
October 53°F (12°C) 2.5 in
November 42°F (5°C) 2.7 in
December 31°F (-1°C) 2.3 in

Highland Park has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 24°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (1.4").

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