Is Melrose Park Safe, Pros and cons of living in Melrose Park

Melrose Park, a Chicago suburb, offers a blend of suburban tranquility and urban accessibility. Its diverse community and established businesses contribute to its unique character. The village provides a range of amenities and a convenient location for commuters.

This community is known for its vibrant cultural scene and a strong sense of local pride, evident in its numerous festivals and events. Residents appreciate the village’s commitment to maintaining its historical charm while embracing modern development. Melrose Park aims to provide a high quality of life for its diverse population.

Is it Safe to Live in Melrose Park?

The overall crime rate in Melrose Park is comparable to the national average, with specific neighborhood variations. Residents generally perceive the eastern parts of the village as the safest. Your likelihood of being a crime victim can differ significantly by neighborhood within Melrose Park (as reported by AreaVibes and CrimeGrade.org).

While the overall crime rate is slightly lower than the national average, it’s important to note that violent crime rates are higher than the national average in some categories (as reported by Niche). Property crime rates are also slightly higher than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes).

Housing Costs in Melrose Park

Melrose Park presents a diverse housing market with a median listing price of $337.4K (as reported by realestate.com.au). The median home value in Melrose Park is approximately $306,639 as of March 2026 (as reported by Zillow).

Home prices have seen an increase, with a 13.2% year-over-year rise in March 2026, reaching a median sale price of $385K (as reported by Redfin). The housing market is considered somewhat competitive, with homes receiving an average of 4 offers (as reported by Redfin).

Rental Market in Melrose Park

The rental market in Melrose Park offers a more affordable option compared to the national average. The average rent in Melrose Park is approximately $904 per month, which is 45% lower than the national average (as reported by Apartments.com).

For those seeking rentals, studio apartments average around $678 per month, one-bedroom units are about $904, and two-bedroom apartments are approximately $1,039 (as reported by Apartments.com). Rent prices have seen a slight increase year-over-year, with an 8.77% rise (as reported by realestate.com.au).

Cost of Living in Melrose Park

The overall cost of living in Melrose Park is slightly higher than the national average, standing at 107 on the index, meaning it’s 7% more expensive than the U.S. average (as reported by AreaVibes). However, certain expenses are lower than the national average.

Housing expenses in Melrose Park are 22% lower than the national average, and utility prices are 8% lower (as reported by Payscale). Transportation costs, such as gas prices, are on par with the national average (as reported by Payscale).

Job Market and Employment in Melrose Park

Melrose Park’s unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2026 (as reported by Data Commons). The village has a labor force of 12,854 people, with an unemployment rate of 4.8% (as reported by ZoomProspector).

Major employers in the area include companies like Dynamic Manufacturing, Alberto Culver, and Anning-Johnson (as reported by Indeed.com and Zippia). Navistar International also had a significant presence, though its plant facility closed in 2021 (as reported by Wikipedia).

Climate in Melrose Park

Melrose Park experiences a humid continental climate with distinct seasons. Summers are warm, humid, and wet, with average high temperatures in July reaching around 83°F and lows around 68°F (as reported by the weather data for Illinois). Winters are cold, snowy, and windy, with average lows in January around 20°F and highs around 32°F (as reported by the weather data for Illinois).

The village receives significant annual precipitation, with June being the wettest month, averaging 3.6 inches of rain (as reported by the weather data for Illinois). Snowfall is moderate, with an average annual accumulation of about 37 inches, and February typically sees the most snow (as reported by the weather data for Illinois and Country Studies).

Education in Melrose Park

Public schools in Melrose Park have an average ranking of 2 out of 10, placing them in the bottom 50% of Illinois public schools (as reported by Niche). Math proficiency scores are around 12%, and reading proficiency scores are about 16% (as reported by Niche).

The top-ranked public schools in Melrose Park include Jane Addams Elementary School, Roy Elementary School, and Westdale Elementary School (as reported by Niche). The student-teacher ratio at Melrose Park Elementary School is 15:1 (as reported by Homes.com).

Demographics of Melrose Park

Melrose Park is a diverse village with a population of 24,796 as of the 2020 census (as reported by Wikipedia). The largest racial/ethnic group is Hispanic, making up 77% of the population, followed by White at 15.8% and Black at 5.1% (as reported by Niche and Point2Homes).

The median age in Melrose Park is 37.3 years (as reported by Data Commons and Point2Homes). For every 100 females, there are approximately 113.0 males (as reported by Point2Homes).