Wheaton, IL

Census place 1781048 · pop 53,557

C62/ 100
😐 Meh
A
in IL
📍 Illinois ranks #39 of 50 states →
🏆 Inactive15.9% · top 6%
🚽 Prop tax2.07% · bottom 9%
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

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.

Housing cost$455,70024

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

$455,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$2,153/mo28

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

$2,153/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level95/10031

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

95/100 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.

Income inequality0.4631

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Population growth (5yr)+0.5%33

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

+0.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Commute time26 min38

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

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

Air quality (AQI)County-level45 AQI39

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

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

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.6%51

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

3.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership71.7%71

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

71.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property crime rate543/100k82

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

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

Adult obesity28.2%83

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

28.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poverty rate5.6%83

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

5.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Broadband access95.7%84

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

95.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Violent crime rate49/100k85

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

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

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

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

0 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.

Median household income$120,00887

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

$120,008 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poor mental health13.6%90

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

13.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking8.3%91

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

8.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults5.1%93

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

5.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Bachelor's degree or higher64.5%93

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

64.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Physical inactivity15.9%94

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

15.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Frequently asked

Is Wheaton, IL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Wheaton scores 62/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is physical inactivity and its weakest is property-tax burden. 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 Wheaton, IL?
Wheaton reports 49 violent crimes per 100k and 543 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Wheaton, IL expensive to live in?
Wheaton has a median home value of $455,700 and typical rent around $2,153/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Wheaton, IL?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.07%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Wheaton, IL best at?
Its strongest measured area is physical inactivity (15.9%) — 94/100, 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.