Melrose Park, IL

Census place 1748242 · pop 24,549

F35/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in IL
📍 Illinois ranks #39 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,408/mo · top 25%
🚽 Uninsured26.7% · bottom 3%
Taxes
2.07% property · US 0.99%8.96% sales · US 7.00%4.95% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Uninsured adults26.7%3

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

26.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level100/1008

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

100/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher15.0%9

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

15.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Property-tax burden2.07%9

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.07% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Population growth (5yr)-4.1%11

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-4.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Air quality (AQI)County-level54 AQI14

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

54 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity31.8%18

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

31.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level11 days19

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

11 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.5%21

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership56.7%29

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

56.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Commute time27 min30

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property crime rate1792/100k34

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1792 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate300/100k35

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

300 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Median household income$66,18938

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$66,189 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate12.3%46

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

12.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult smoking13.2%50

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

13.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Housing cost$275,80051

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$275,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Adult obesity34.6%52

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

34.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Broadband access92.0%53

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Poor mental health16.5%59

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

16.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.4074

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$1,408/mo75

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,408/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Frequently asked

Is Melrose Park, IL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Melrose Park scores 35/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is uninsured adults. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Melrose Park, IL?
Melrose Park reports 300 violent crimes per 100k and 1792 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Melrose Park, IL expensive to live in?
Melrose Park has a median home value of $275,800 and typical rent around $1,408/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Melrose Park, IL?
Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (26.7%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Melrose Park, IL best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,408/mo) — 75/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.