Moving to Arlington Heights, IL places you in the largest of Chicago's northwest suburbs, a village of roughly 77,600 residents sitting about 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago in Cook County. It is the fifteenth most populous municipality in Illinois and one of the few suburbs in the region built around a genuinely walkable downtown core. Two Metra stations on the Union Pacific Northwest Line, top-ranked public schools, a violent crime rate roughly 80 percent below the national average, and a 56-park village park district are the reasons most households give when they decide to relocate here.
Relocation to Arlington Heights is usually a trade. Housing costs more than the Illinois average, with a median home value in the low to mid 400 thousands and property tax bills near 8,400 dollars a year. In return, you get a 33-minute train ride to Ogilvie Transportation Center, a full interchange with I-90 at Arlington Heights Road, O'Hare International Airport roughly 25 minutes away by car, and a downtown where dinner, live theater, and the train platform sit within a few blocks of each other. Most families who move here are trading square footage in the city for schools, safety, and a predictable commute.
Cost of Living
Cost of living indexes place Arlington Heights between 6 and 24 percent above the national average, with housing and property taxes accounting for nearly the entire gap. Groceries run 2 to 5 percent above average, healthcare 7 to 16 percent higher, and utilities slightly below the national figure at roughly 180 to 200 dollars a month for an apartment. The median effective property tax rate sits near 2.52 percent, producing a median annual bill around 8,400 dollars. Illinois charges a flat 4.95 percent income tax, the combined sales tax rate is 10.00 percent, and retirement income is not taxed at the state level.
Housing: What Your Budget Buys
| Housing type | Typical price range | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown condo or townhome | 250,000 to 425,000 | Commuters and downsizers |
| Mid-century ranch or split level | 375,000 to 500,000 | Young families, single level living |
| Updated colonial or two-story | 500,000 to 750,000 | Families needing four bedrooms |
| Custom estate home | 800,000 and above | Move-up buyers wanting large lots |
| Rental apartment, two bedroom | 1,700 to 2,200 per month | New arrivals testing the area |
Single-family detached homes account for just over half the housing stock, with condos and apartments making up about a third, and roughly 74 percent of households own their home. Properties go under contract in well under two months on average, so out-of-state buyers should line up financing before touring.
Jobs and the Local Economy
The village holds more than 16 million square feet of commercial, office, and industrial space across four distinct areas: the downtown business district, professional and medical office corridors along Golf Road and Rand Road, retail along Northwest Highway and Route 14, and warehouse and flex space near Route 53 and I-90. Healthcare, professional services, retail, and light manufacturing anchor local employment, with Northwest Community Hospital, the school districts, and firms such as ITW Construction Products among the larger employers.
Most residents work elsewhere in the metro. Median household income runs near 120,000 dollars, unemployment sits between 2.6 and 3.7 percent, and the average commute is about 25 to 28 minutes.
Best Schools
Arlington Heights School District 25 serves most kindergarten through eighth-grade students across seven elementary schools and two middle schools with about 5,300 students enrolled. High school students attend Township High School District 214, the second largest high school district in Illinois. Village public schools average 47 percent math proficiency against a 27 percent state average, and 45 percent reading proficiency against 30 percent statewide.
- John Hersey High School, the District 214 campus in Arlington Heights, ranks roughly 15th in Illinois with a 96.4 percent four-year graduation rate and 62 percent AP participation.
- Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary ranks in the top 7 to 15 percent of Illinois elementary schools.
- Greenbrier Elementary and Patton Elementary both hold five-star ratings and rank among the top elementary schools statewide.
- Thomas Middle School and South Middle School serve the District 25 upper grades.
- Private options include St. James School, Our Lady of the Wayside, and Christian Liberty Academy.
School boundaries do not follow neighborhood names cleanly. Depending on address, students may feed into Hersey, Prospect, Rolling Meadows, or Buffalo Grove high schools, so verify assignment by exact street address before signing anything.
Crime Rate and Safety
Arlington Heights is one of the safer communities of its size in the country. FBI data for 2024 shows a violent crime rate of about 50 per 100,000 residents against a national figure near 359, and a property crime rate around 880 per 100,000. Overall crime runs roughly 47 to 50 percent below the national average, earning the village an A-minus safety grade, and violent crime declined nearly 40 percent year over year. Larceny and theft are the most commonly reported incidents, and residents rate the northern and northeastern sections as the safest.
Weather and Climate
The climate is humid continental with four clearly separated seasons. Temperatures range from average lows near 17 degrees Fahrenheit in January to average highs around 84 degrees in July. The village records roughly 36 to 41 inches of precipitation and 36 to 37 inches of snow annually across about 189 sunny days. Sitting 25 miles inland, Arlington Heights misses most lake-effect snow but also loses the lake moderation that keeps Chicago cooler in summer. September offers the clearest skies of the year and November the least rainfall.
Things to Do
The downtown entertainment district around the Metra station carries independent restaurants, boutiques on Campbell Street, and the 350-seat Metropolis Performing Arts Centre presenting theater, comedy, and concerts. Lake Arlington on the north side offers a 50-acre lake with a two-mile loop path, fishing pier, and summer boat rentals. Arlington Alfresco closes downtown streets for open-air dining from May through September, the Sounds of Summer concert series runs free Thursday shows in July and August, and the farmers market operates Saturday mornings May through October. The park district also runs three outdoor pools and the Arlington Lakes Golf Club.
Pros and Cons
| Advantages | Trade offs |
|---|---|
| Two Metra stations, 33 minutes to the Loop | Property taxes near 2.52 percent of value |
| Violent crime about 80 percent below national average | Housing costs above the Illinois average |
| Top-ranked District 25 and District 214 schools | School boundaries vary block by block |
| Walkable downtown with theater and dining | Outer neighborhoods are car dependent |
| 56 parks, three pools, and Lake Arlington | Cold winters averaging 37 inches of snow |
| O’Hare and I-90 within 25 minutes | Competitive market with fast-moving listings |
Making the Move Itself Go Smoothly
The relocation is the part people underestimate. Downtown condo buildings often require a certificate of insurance and a reserved elevator window, older homes in Scarsdale and Stonegate have narrow stairwells and tight driveways, and winter move dates bring salt, slush, and floor protection into the plan. Collins Family Movers has handled these details across Chicago and the northwest suburbs since 2009 as a family-owned moving company with a full-time, background-checked crew, flat rate quotes with no surprise fees, and full cargo coverage on every load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arlington Heights a good place to live?
Arlington Heights ranks among the stronger northwest suburbs for schools, safety, and walkability. Residents cite the downtown district, Metra access, and park system as the main draws. The trade-off is higher housing and property tax costs than surrounding communities.
Is Arlington Heights, IL safe?
Yes. Overall crime runs roughly 47 to 50 percent below the national average, with a violent crime rate near 50 per 100,000 residents compared to a national figure around 359. The village holds an A-minus safety grade.
What are the best schools in Arlington Heights?
John Hersey High School ranks around 15th in Illinois with a 96.4 percent graduation rate. Olive-Mary Stitt, Greenbrier, and Patton elementary schools all rank among the top elementary schools statewide within District 25.
Is Arlington Heights expensive to live in?
Cost of living indexes place the village 6 to 24 percent above the national average, driven almost entirely by housing and property taxes. Utilities run slightly below average and groceries only a few points above.
What jobs are available in Arlington Heights?
Healthcare, professional services, retail, and light manufacturing anchor local employment across more than 16 million square feet of commercial space. Most residents commute elsewhere in the metro, with an average commute of 25 to 28 minutes.
How much does it cost to move to Arlington Heights?
A local two to three-bedroom move within the northwest suburbs typically runs between 850 and 2,600 dollars. Moves from Chicago neighborhoods, long-distance relocations, and full packing services fall outside that range.