Living in Cicero, IL
Cicero is the 453rd-largest city in the US, home to about 82,000 people in 2025. It has lost 4% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (103.6 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 81,858-4% since 2020
- Median home value
- $249,4003.5 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,154/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $70,842median, per year
- Price level
- 103.6US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 33° / 85°lows 19° / 68°
- Average commute
- 29 min6% work from home
- State income tax
- 4.95%top rate, flat
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County: Cook County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 604 ft
Metro area: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cost of living in Cicero
The median home in Cicero is worth $249,400 and the median household earns $70,842 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.5 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,154 a month, about 20% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area at 103.6, with housing at 112.0 and goods at 107.3 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $77,700 here. Illinois taxes wages at a top rate of 4.95% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in Illinois is 8.98%.
What would my salary be worth in Cicero?
Cicero weather
Average highs run from 33°F in January to 85°F in July, and January nights average 19°F. It gets 34 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 39 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 106 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Cicero
People and work
The median resident is 34.4 years old, and 11% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 55% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 29 minutes; 6% of workers work from home and 7% take public transit.
- Median age
- 34.4151st youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 11%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 55%of households
- People per sq mile
- 13,9575.9 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 7%3% walk, 0.6% bike
- Unemployment
- 5%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 14.6%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1938median year
Who moves to Cicero, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Houston (Harris County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Phoenix (Maricopa County), Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) and New York County, NY. See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for Cook County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: tornado, inland flooding, heat wave, winter weather.
Home prices
+6.2% in a year
Up 46% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL (MSAD) area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
30% good days
32 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Cicero
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Rate Field 7 miles
- Wrigley Field 9 miles
- Northwestern University 15 miles
- University of Chicago 9 miles
- University of Illinois Chicago 6 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Cicero
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Midway International Airport MDW | 4 mi | 10,360,093 |
| O'Hare International Airport ORD | 12 mi | 38,575,693 |
| Chicago Rockford International Airport RFD | 73 mi | 132,154 |
| South Bend Regional Airport SBN | 75 mi | 454,920 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Cicero
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Chicago | 6 mi | 22,170 | $9,540 | 61% |
| College of DuPage | 16 mi | 16,114 | $5,165 | 24% |
| DePaul University | 7 mi | 14,090 | $27,108 | 67% |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | 16 mi | 14,027 | $38,263 | 35% |
| Loyola University Chicago | 12 mi | 11,737 | $36,340 | 72% |
| Northwestern University | 15 mi | 9,201 | $34,420 | 96% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Cicero
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 11, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 21 and the first frost comes around October 31.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Chicago Midway Airport, IL, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Cicero.
Wildfire smoke in Cicero
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Cicero on about 134 days a year, including about 36 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Cicero
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 24,432 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Cicero
Downtown Cicero is in these districts. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero School District 99 | Pre-K to 8 | 8,664 | 15 | 14.8 |
| J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 | 9 to 12 | 7,709 | 4 | 15.8 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Chicago Public School District 299 (324,130 students), Elmhurst School District 205 (8,280 students), Consolidated High School District 230 (7,613 students), Maine Township High School District 207 (6,272 students), Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (5,560 students), Community High School District 218 (5,436 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Cicero's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Cicero's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- New Britain, CT82% matchCompare
- Hartford, CT75% matchCompare
- New Haven, CT73% matchCompare
- Pawtucket, RI72% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Cicero
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Cicero
- Wilmot Mountain 51 miles
- Alpine Valley Resort 71 miles
- Little Switzerland 107 miles
- Timber Ridge Ski Area 109 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Cicero
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.5 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
Cons
- Data The population has shrunk 4% since 2020.
- Data High natural hazard risk in Cook County (FEMA rates it very high), led by tornado, inland flooding and heat wave.
- Data Air quality is a concern: 32 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).
Cicero report card from locals
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Cicero through locals' eyes
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Cities near Cicero
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4 mi | 2,731,585 | $334,100 | 103.6 | Compare |
| Evanston, IL | 15 mi | 76,380 | $481,200 | 103.6 | Compare |
| Naperville, IL | 20 mi | 153,114 | $540,200 | 103.6 | Compare |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 21 mi | 76,216 | $414,500 | 103.6 | Compare |
| Schaumburg, IL | 21 mi | 77,249 | $330,400 | 103.6 | Compare |
| Hammond, IN | 22 mi | 75,712 | $159,900 | 103.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cicero ranks 163rd of 177 in our best suburbs of Chicago ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Cicero with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Cicero a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show homes that cost under four years of median income, 6 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are a shrinking population. Compare Cicero side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Cicero?
The Census Bureau estimates Cicero had 81,858 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 85,294 in April 2020 (-4%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Cicero?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,700 in the Cicero area. The median household here earns $70,842.
When is the best time to visit Cicero?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to October are the most comfortable months. July averages 85°F and January 33°F for daytime highs.
What county is Cicero in?
Cicero is in Cook County, Illinois. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Cicero in?
Cicero is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Cicero?
About 604 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Illinois have a state income tax?
Yes. Illinois has a flat income tax with a top rate of 4.95% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Cicero. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Chicago Midway Airport, IL station; snowfall from Chicago Midway Airport 3Sw, IL. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.