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Wheeling, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
38,495 Population 4,440/sq mi density
$83,251 Median Income $41,463 per capita
$244,600 Home Value $300,002 Zillow
$1,578 Median Rent 26.8% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
74 Violent Crime/100K 1,071 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$83,251 median income, 3.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$244,600 home value, $1,578/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
74 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.2 / 5.0
40.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Wheeling experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 32.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average50.8°F
6% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation650 ft (198 m)
Area8.7 sq mi (22.5 km²)
Population Density4,440/sq mi
Coordinates42.1296°N, 87.9215°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportChicago O'Hare International (ORD)
11 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 32.3"
15% below US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.17"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.42"

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 M4.2 110 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 51 km
Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 133 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 38 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 85 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 37 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 51 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 126 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

508 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 105 fatalities, 2,228 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 61 km 29
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 72 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 52 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 17 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 52 km 33
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 29 km 1
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 83 km 24
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 39 km 6
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 48 km 0
Jun 22, 2015 EF3 99 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 58 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 80 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 63 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 73 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 92 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 66 km 0
Oct 24, 1967 EF3 87 km 0
Nov 12, 1965 EF3 74 km 0
Jul 19, 1963 EF3 57 km 0
Apr 23, 1961 EF3 90 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 98 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 86 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 86 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 85 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 84 km
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 82 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 83 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 87 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 83 km
2024 IBSP SOUTH F1 RX 690 32 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 83 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 87 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 87 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 1.7 in Coldest
February 27°F (-3°C) 1.4 in Driest
March 37°F (3°C) 2.5 in
April 48°F (9°C) 3.6 in
May 59°F (15°C) 3.5 in
June 69°F (21°C) 3.8 in
July 75°F (24°C) 3.7 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 4.2 in Wettest
September 64°F (18°C) 3.5 in
October 53°F (11°C) 2.5 in
November 40°F (4°C) 2.8 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 2.3 in

Wheeling has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 25°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 35.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (1.4").

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