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North Chicago, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
30,772 Population 3,847/sq mi density
$56,815 Median Income $24,750 per capita
$147,800 Home Value $205,025 Zillow
$1,392 Median Rent 31.0% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 261 sunny days/yr
439 Violent Crime/100K 2,903 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$56,815 median income, 3.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$147,800 home value, $1,392/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
439 violent crimes/100K (16% above avg)
C+
Education
2.5 / 5.0
19.1% bachelor's degree or higher
North Chicago experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 261 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

23°F Jan (-5°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average48.4°F
10% below US avg
January Average23°F (-5°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days261 days/yr

Geography

Elevation715 ft (218 m)
Area7.9 sq mi (20.5 km²)
Population Density3,847/sq mi
Coordinates42.3167°N, 87.8592°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportKenosha Regional (ENW)
20 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Wettest Month (Aug) 4.06"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.30"

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 M4.2 128 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 65 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 58 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 103 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 44 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 65 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 147 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

445 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 102 fatalities, 2,130 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 82 km 29
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 85 km 1
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 94 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 73 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 4 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 72 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 39 km 1
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 88 km 24
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 44 km 6
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 69 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 47 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 80 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 84 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 94 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 87 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 91 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 43 km 0
Nov 22, 2010 EF2 91 km 0
Jul 22, 2010 EF2 67 km 0
Jun 21, 2010 EF2 81 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 7 106 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

4 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: OGDEN DUNS (863 ac, 1986).

Year Name Acres Distance
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 95 km
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 11 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 95 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 23°F (-5°C) 1.7 in Coldest
February 26°F (-3°C) 1.3 in Driest
March 36°F (2°C) 2.5 in
April 47°F (8°C) 3.5 in
May 58°F (14°C) 3.4 in
June 67°F (20°C) 3.7 in
July 72°F (22°C) 3.7 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 4.1 in Wettest
September 63°F (17°C) 3.7 in
October 52°F (11°C) 2.4 in
November 39°F (4°C) 2.6 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 2.2 in

North Chicago has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 23°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (1.3").

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