Living in Des Plaines, IL
Suburb in Illinois
Des Plaines is a suburb in Illinois, home to about 59,000 people, with 7.0 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Des Plaines a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 26 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Big job market: about 7.0 million people live within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 83°F
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Higher taxes: about $2,002 state income tax per resident, 1.97% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Des Plaines ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Des Plaines: common questions
What is the cost of living in Des Plaines?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $393k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,290 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 104, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Des Plaines?
Illinois collects about $2,002 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.97% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Des Plaines safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Des Plaines?
Des Plaines has cold winters: winter days average around 35°F and summer days around 83°F, with roughly 38″ of snow a year.
Does Des Plaines get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.65 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Des Plaines?
The nearest major airport is ORD, about 4 mi away.
How Des Plaines scores
Each bar compares Des Plaines with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Des Plaines right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.