Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
10-19 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
27%
Over 65
14%
Melrose Park
Melrose Park, IL Area Guide
Avg Rent
$904
Population
21,801
Renter Mix
52% Rent
Chicago suburb presents tight-knit community on the cusp of city life.
Commuter
•
Suburban
•
River Access
•
Outdoor Adventures
•
Melrose Park sits just 14 miles west of Chicago, offering a suburban pace without losing touch with the city's pulse. The Metra station connects commuters directly to downtown Chicago, while quick access to Interstates 88, 290, and 294 makes getting around the broader metro area easy. Thatcher Woods and the Des Plaines River provide natural breathing room close to home, giving outdoor enthusiasts plenty to explore on weekends. Nearby Gottlieb Memorial Hospital also anchors the area as a well-supported, established community.
The rental landscape here features a solid mix of garden-style apartment communities and traditional flats, with options ranging from studios to two-bedroom units at some of the more accessible price points in Cook County. This is the kind of place where you get real space for your rent dollar compared to what you'd find closer to the city. Every August, the Melrose Park Taste brings the whole village together for a neighborhood-wide food and entertainment festival that locals look forward to all year long. Once home to Kiddieland Amusement Park, which drew Chicagoland visitors for over 80 years, the village carries a genuine sense of history that still shapes its close-knit character today.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$59,884
Average: $79,764
Education
2,966
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
10,761
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Melrose Park has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
52%
Non-Renters
48%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
9%
Other Education
91%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Melrose Park, IL is $676 for a studio, $902 for one bedroom, and $1,036 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in Melrose Park has increased by 1.9% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$902/month
610 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Melrose Park, IL is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
410 Students
Melrose Park Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
629 Students
Public
Grades K-5
377 Students
Public
Grades K-5
301 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
990 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
833 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
736 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
990 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Cernan Earth and Space Center
- Tyrell Trailside Museum / Thatcher Woods
- Schiller Woods
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
- Wilder Park Conservatory
Airports
- Chicago O'Hare International
- Chicago Midway International
Top Apartments in Melrose Park
Houses for Rent in Melrose Park
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.