Is Oak Lawn Safe, Pros and cons of living in Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn, Illinois, offers a suburban lifestyle with convenient access to the amenities of Chicago. This community provides a blend of residential comfort and a functional local economy. It’s a place where many choose to settle, drawn by its established neighborhoods and accessible services.
The village is characterized by its diverse population and a strong sense of community. Oak Lawn is home to a significant population of families and individuals seeking a balance between suburban tranquility and urban proximity. Its infrastructure supports a variety of lifestyles, making it an appealing option for those considering a move to the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Is it Safe to Live in Oak Lawn?
Oak Lawn’s overall crime rate is reported to be 10% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents (according to AreaVibes). The village experiences an average of 2.87 daily crimes, which includes approximately 0.27 violent incidents and 2.6 property-related offenses. This suggests a relatively safe environment for its residents.
When examining specific crime statistics, Oak Lawn’s violent crime rate is approximately 180 per 100,000 individuals, which is 49.8% lower than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes). Property crimes in Oak Lawn amount to 1727 per 100,000 residents, which is 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (according to AreaVibes). Residents generally consider the southwest part of the city to be the safest, with a lower chance of being a victim of crime compared to other neighborhoods (as reported by CrimeRate.com).
Housing Costs in Oak Lawn
Home Prices
The housing market in Oak Lawn presents a median home price of approximately $303,000 as of March 2026 (according to Redfin). This figure reflects a slight decrease of 2.9% compared to the previous year. Homes in Oak Lawn tend to sell after about 78 days on the market, which is slightly longer than the previous year’s average of 69 days.
The median sale price per square foot in Oak Lawn is around $184, showing an increase of 6.3% from the prior year (as reported by Redfin). In March 2026, Oak Lawn was considered a seller’s market, indicating more demand than available homes, with a median list price of $277,000 (according to Movoto). However, another report from Zillow indicates a median sale price of $265,933 as of February 2026.
Rental Market
For those considering renting, the average rent in Oak Lawn is approximately $1,147 per month as of May 2026 (according to Apartments.com). This is noted as being 30% lower than the national average rent, making Oak Lawn a more affordable option for renters compared to many U.S. cities. A studio apartment averages around $565 per month, a one-bedroom is about $1,147, and a two-bedroom can be expected to cost approximately $1,443 per month.
RentCafe reports a slightly different average rent of $1,177 per month as of March 2026, which represents a 10.79% decrease from the previous year. A one-bedroom apartment in this data set averages $1,037 for 634 square feet, while two-bedroom units are around $1,371 for 801 square feet. In contrast, Zumper indicates a median rent of $1,695 as of April 2026, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,300 and two-bedroom apartments at $1,650.
Cost of Living
The overall cost of living in Oak Lawn is considered to be 15% higher than the national average (according to Payscale). This is influenced by various expense categories, with housing expenses being notably higher than the national average, up by 23%. Utility prices, however, are 5% lower than the national average, and transportation costs like gas and bus fares are 4% higher.
Grocery prices in Oak Lawn are 4% higher than the national average, and healthcare costs are 16% higher than the national average (as reported by Payscale). LivingCost.org notes that the average cost of living in Oak Lawn is $2,443 per month, placing it among the more expensive cities globally and within the United States. Salary.com estimates monthly living costs at $2,779 for singles and $6,119 for families of four as of March 2026, indicating it is 12% higher than the U.S. national average.
Job Market and Employment
Average Salary and Income
The average annual household income in Oak Lawn was $109,917 in 2024, showing a 5% increase from the previous year, with a median income of $83,911 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau via Point2Homes). ZipRecruiter reports a different average annual salary of $57,591 as of April 2026, which equates to approximately $27.69 per hour. The majority of salaries in Oak Lawn range between $38,750 and $75,174 annually.
Data from Data Commons indicates a median individual income of $44,712 in 2024. Another source, Zippia, states the average salary in Oak Lawn is $62,000, with an average hourly pay of $29.00. The median household income reported by Census Bureau data is $83,911 (as per Oak Lawn Demographics).
Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate in Oak Lawn currently stands at 5.4% (according to Point2Homes). Data from BestNeighborhood.org indicates an employment rate of 93.41%, meaning the unemployment rate is approximately 6.59%. Another source, Data Commons, reports the unemployment rate as 5.9% in 2026.
The job market in Oak Lawn is supported by approximately 27,454 working residents. A significant majority, 77.1%, are employed in professional or administrative positions, while 22.9% are in hands-on or service-based jobs. The most common employment sectors for residents include Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Educational Services (according to Data USA).
Major Employers
Major employers in Oak Lawn include prominent retail and service-oriented companies such as Walmart, McDonald’s, UPS, Target, Starbucks, Kroger, and Dollar Tree (as listed on Indeed.com). Advocate Health Care and OSF HealthCare Medical Group also have significant presences, indicating a strong healthcare sector within the community.
Other notable companies include Aurora Health Care and Advocate Children’s Hospital, highlighting the importance of healthcare as a major employer. The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce also lists various businesses, including Express Employment Professionals and Aldom Professional Accounting & Tax Service, LLC, contributing to the local economy.
Climate in Oak Lawn
Temperatures
Oak Lawn experiences significant temperature variations throughout the year, with average daytime temperatures ranging from a high of 84°F (29°C) in July to a low of 32°F (0°C) in January (according to BestWeather.com). Nighttime temperatures can drop to 18°F (-8°C) in January and reach 66°F (19°C) in July.
The warm season typically lasts from late May to mid-September, with daily high temperatures generally above 74°F. The coldest season spans from early December to early March, with average daily high temperatures below 42°F. The hottest month is July, with average highs around 85°F and lows around 67°F, while January sees average highs of 33°F and lows of 18°F.
Rainfall
Oak Lawn has a wet climate, receiving approximately 42 inches of rain and snowfall annually (according to LivingCost.org and WorldWeatherOnline). June is typically the wettest month, with an average of about 5 inches of precipitation and around 15 rainy days. January is the driest month, with about 2.2 inches of precipitation over 11 days.
The chance of a wet day in Oak Lawn varies, with a wetter season lasting from late March to late October, having a greater than 26% chance of precipitation. The drier season occurs from late October to late March. The month with the most wet days is July, averaging 11.3 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation, while January has the fewest, with an average of 5.0 wet days.
Education in Oak Lawn
School Ratings
Public schools in Oak Lawn have an average rating of 4 out of 10, placing them in the bottom 50% of Illinois public schools (according to Niche). The average math proficiency score is 22%, and the reading proficiency score is 25%, both below the Illinois averages of 27% and 30%, respectively.
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Oak Lawn include Kolmar Avenue Elementary School, Harnew Elementary School, and Sward Elementary School (as per Niche). For high school education, Oak Lawn Community High School has a B+ overall grade and is ranked within the top 50% of public high schools in Illinois.
Demographics
Oak Lawn is home to a population of approximately 56,900 residents (as of 2024, according to Data USA). The racial makeup of Oak Lawn is predominantly White, comprising about 63.1% of the population, followed by Hispanic residents at 24%, and Black or African American residents at 8.6% (according to Oak Lawn Demographics). A notable portion of residents, around 15.5%, were born outside the country.
The median age in Oak Lawn is 40.3 years (as reported by Data Commons and Census Reporter). Regarding citizenship, 94.9% of Oak Lawn residents are U.S. citizens, which is higher than the national average. The poverty rate in Oak Lawn is 9.63% for the population whose poverty status is determined, which is lower than the national average of 12.5% (according to Data USA).