Cook
Illinois

What stands out

What stands out about Cook County: natural-hazard risk is among the riskiest in America (100 of 100), the property tax rate is in the top 3% of American counties (2.02%), and homeownership is in the bottom 5% of American counties (58%). Within Illinois it ranks 1st of 102 counties for natural-hazard risk.

Where you are

You live in Cook County, Illinois. 5,225,367 people live here with you, which makes it one of the country's big urban counties. The population shrank 0.5% last year.

Illinois exempts all retirement income from its flat 4.95% income tax: Social Security, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals are untaxed. It offsets that with the second-highest property taxes in the country and an estate tax that starts at $4 million, well below the federal threshold. Chicago and the collar counties hold two-thirds of the population; downstate is a different housing market.

Money

The typical household here brings in $78,304 a year, higher than 86% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $86,931. Unemployment runs 5.0%, higher than 89% of American counties. 14% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 28 minutes each way.

Illinois takes 5.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,876 a year.

Home

The median home costs $335K, pricier than 77% of American counties, about 3.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,334 a month. Property tax is 2.02% of home value, roughly $5,941 a year on that median home, higher than 97% of American counties. 58% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.3 per 1,000 residents, lower than 81% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 25 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 77.9 years, longer than 74% of American counties. There are 26,945 active physicians in the county, about 51.6 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.8 of 5 stars. 10.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.91 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 71% of American counties. 88% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 50 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 65% of eligible voters turned out. Under Illinois law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 51°F, highs near 61 and lows near 42, colder than 70% of American counties. About 30 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 100 out of 100, riskier than almost every county in America; the county has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 280 Mbps down, faster than 89% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 64 breweries, 81 museums, 1 National Park Service site.