Most working residents leave West Chicago for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Chicago (14%), St. Charles (4%) and Naperville (4%). Half commute less than 12 miles.

11%work in town

Where working residents work

In West Chicago11%

Chicago14%

St. Charles4%

Naperville4%

Wheaton4%

12 mi

median commute distance

16,644

jobs based in West Chicago

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →

Natural hazards

Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 15% of U.S. communities.

15risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →

Housing

A typical West Chicago home is worth about $390K

The typical West Chicago home is worth about $390,000, up 4.2% in a year, 31% above the Illinois typical home.

$390KZillow home value

Typical home value

West Chicago$390K

Illinois$298K

Market temperature

days on market

103%

sale-to-list price

+4.2%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety

Less crime per resident than 70% of U.S. towns

West Chicago reports less crime per resident than 70% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

B+Safety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

West Chicago1.4

Illinois2.6

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

West Chicago6

Illinois15.6

U.S.15.5

70th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

52nd

percentile among IL towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

153

property crimes reported in 2025

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →

Climate

Snowy winters, pleasant summers

West Chicago has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 46 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

46″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter18–34°

Spring38–59°

Summer61–82°

Fall42–62°

Oct 19

typical first frost

Apr 25

typical last frost

+1.2°

vs. the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →

1943 · West Chicago, Illinois. Reading the minutes at a meeting of the West Chicago Lodge of the International Brotherhood of … · Library of Congress

West Chicago’s story

153 years in pictures

12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 2 places on the National Register.

1873West Chicago is settled
1943West Chicago, Illinois. Reading the minutes at a meeting of…
1962More of Roger Puta's C&NW - 6 Photos
1984West Chicago Halloween Pumpkins 1984
1987EJE 665 at West Chicago, IL on December 14, 1987

West Chicago, Illinois. Mr. W.M. Hoag, president, opens the meeting of the west Chicago Lodge of the International Brot…

West Chicago, Illinois. Mr. W.M. Hoag, president of the Albert Keep Lodge Number 364 of the International Brotherhood o…

Explore the history →

Landmarks

2 places in West Chicago on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

McAuley School District No. 27Built 1857

Turner Town Hall

Famous people from West Chicago

7 notable people were born in West Chicago.

See all 7 →

John KoncharAmerican basketball player · born 1996

Harris W. FawellAmerican politician · 1929–2021

John Warne GatesAmerican industrialist · 1855–1911

Chauncey William ReedAmerican politician · 1890–1956

Beverly Rae KimesAutomobile journalist · 1939–2008

Joe LeonardAmerican baseball player · 1894–1920

About West Chicago

City in Illinois, United States

Official town website ↗

West Chicago is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,614 at the 2020 census. It was formerly named Junction and later Turner, after its founder, John Bice Turner, president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) in 1855. The city was initially established around the first junction of railroad lines in Illinois, and today is still served by the Union Pacific West Metra service via West Chicago station.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)