Cost of Living in Palos Hills, IL

Population 18,139 · Illinois · Data vintage 2023

90
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Palos Hills is effectively a commuter community: the average resident spends 38 minutes each way getting to work, well above the 27-minute US median. Housing costs ($259,000 for a typical home) tend to reflect the tradeoff between price and access.

Geographically, Palos Hills sits roughly 12 miles southwest of Chicago. Median home values run roughly 18% lower than Chicago's $315,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 85
Rent 96

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Palos Hills

The median home value in Palos Hills is $259,200 — 15% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,267/month, 4% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $83,969/year is 13% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.4%, below the national average of 4.8%. Illinois's top state income tax rate is 5.0% and the combined sales tax is 8.7%. Overall, Palos Hills has a cost of living index of 90 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 10% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$259,200
15% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$275,354
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,267/mo
4% below avg
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
2.2%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$651
1 BR
$741
2 BR
$899
3 BR
$1,196
4 BR
$1,364
Owner-occupied 79.6%
Renter-occupied 20.4%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,267
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,881/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
37.6 min
39% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
11.6%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
74.3%
Carpooled
9.8%
Public transit
3.3%
Walked
0.6%
Work from home
11.6%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) 5.0%
Total Sales Tax 8.7%
State rate 6.3%
Avg local rate 2.5%
Property Tax 2.2%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$83,969
13% above avg
Per Capita Income
$38,939
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
9% below avg
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Labor Force Participation
62.7%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 15.8%
Graduate degree 9.3%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 42.5
Male median age 41.2
Female median age 45.3

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 57 — Moderate
28.5%
Good air days/yr
223
Max AQI recorded
252
PM2.5 days
97
Ozone days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Palos Hills, IL?

Palos Hills has a cost index of 90 (100 = national average). It is 10% below the national average.

What is average rent in Palos Hills, IL?

The median gross rent in Palos Hills is $1,267 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Palos Hills?

The median home value in Palos Hills is $259,200 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Palos Hills?

The median household income in Palos Hills is $83,969 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Palos Hills, IL?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Palos Hills is 8.7%. The Illinois state income tax top rate is 5.0%.

Is Palos Hills, IL affordable?

Palos Hills is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 90 (100 = US average).

Palos Hills at a Glance

Population
18,139
Median Income
$83,969
Home Value
$259,200
Median Rent
$1,267/mo
Unemployment
4.4%
Sales Tax
8.7%
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🗺️ County data for Illinois

Explore county-level cost of living data

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