Carillon tower, 2007
Rolling Meadows’s story
73 years in pictures
Census counts: 10,879 in 1960, 24,200 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 7 maps from 1923 on.
- 1953Rolling Meadows is settled
Photo: author: Joseph E. Lobocki · CC BY 2.0
Population
23,690
2025 Census estimate · −2.3% since 2020
Typical home
$337K
+7.4% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
39.5
years
Jobs based here
25,281
A job hub
TownGrade
A−
#279 of 767 in IL
Is Rolling Meadows a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Rolling Meadows grades A− overall, 279th of 767 graded towns in Illinois. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 90% of the country. The median household earns $99K and its public schools beat 77% of Illinois towns on state tests and graduation. What holds it back is price: the typical home is worth about $336K, 3.7 years of the Chicago metro’s $91K median household income. On history, just 25 of Illinois’ 1,285 towns do worse. Rolling Meadows is more walkable than 85% of U.S. towns. 44% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Rolling Meadows, against 29% in Illinois’ towns and 29% across U.S. towns.
What makes Rolling Meadows stand out
Where Rolling Meadows beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here25,281
Residents who work11,225
Work
2.3 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 95% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 85% of U.S. towns
4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A job hub
Every workday, about 24,643 people come to Rolling Meadows for work
Where Rolling Meadows’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
25,281jobs based in Rolling Meadows
6%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Rolling Meadows grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Rolling Meadows is from typical.
HealthNorthwest Community Hospital 1 1.8 miles awayAOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.7 of 20; 4.4% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →SafetyB−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 46% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landBOpen →History2 notable people born hereD−Open →Civic life3.4 library visits per resident; 2.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 174 attractions →Wrigley Field and 156 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Rolling Meadows. Close and well known come first.
Big draw21 mi Stadium & arenaWrigley Field
Big draw26 mi Stadium & arenaSoldier Field
9 mi Stadium & arenaAllstate Arena
Big draw30 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
Big draw26 mi Stadium & arenaRate Field
Big draw23 mi Stadium & arenaUnited CenterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Wrigley Field: Ryan Dickey, CC BY 2.0 · Soldier Field: Photo by Joon Han Contact: [email protected], CC BY-SA 3.0 · Allstate Arena: Nkon21, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Barack Obama Presidential Center: AlphaBeta135, CC0 · Rate Field: User Enoch Lai on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · United Center: User:JeremyA, CC BY-SA 2.5
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Rolling Meadows: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rolling Meadows, and how to reach them.
PowerCommonwealth Edison17.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRolling Meadows water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpRolling Meadows Recycling CenterTown’s haulerTown site
SchoolsPalatine Community Consolidated School District 15Township High School District 214Township High School District 2113 districts serve Rolling Meadows; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCook County ClerkCook County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026
ZIP codes60008, 6006760008 94% · 60067 6%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Rolling Meadows.
Rolling Meadows draws workers from Chicago and beyond and has seen reported crime fall by a fifth or more.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most working residents commute out of Rolling Meadows
25,281 jobs are based in Rolling Meadows, 2.3 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here grew from 18,926 in 2013 to 25,281.
Most working residents leave Rolling Meadows for work: only 6% work in town. Jobs based in Rolling Meadows grew to 25,281 in 2023, 6,355 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Chicago (17%), Schaumburg (7%) and Arlington Heights (7%).
6%work in town
| Rolling Meadows | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $99,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 15% | 11% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.7% | 8.4% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Rolling Meadows6%
Chicago17%
Schaumburg7%
Arlington Heights7%
Palatine4%
10 mi
median commute distance
25,281
jobs based in Rolling Meadows
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 85% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthA
Rolling Meadows’ grade for health is an A
27% of Rolling Meadows adults have obesity. Rolling Meadows beats the Illinois average on 15 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 20% of Rolling Meadows adults binge drink.
90%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Rolling Meadows | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 37% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
15 better17 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Rolling Meadows | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.1% | 7.8% |
| Fewer adults with obesity | 27% | 34% |
Northwest Community Hospital 1
1.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
85th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsB
Conserved land covers 3.9% of Rolling Meadows
2.4 miles of trail in 11 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Kimball Hill Park, at 28 acres.
#294for trails in IL
| Rolling Meadows | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.3% |
3.9%
conserved · 141 of 3,584 acres
2.4 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Salk Park | 0.3 mi | 20 |
| 2. Rolling Meadows Community Center Fields | 0.3 mi | 18 |
| 3. Kimball Hill Park | 0.2 mi | 28 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 16° and about 38 inches of snow falls in a winter.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–34°
Spring38–58°
Summer61–82°
Fall43–62°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 16
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
Rolling Meadows’ grade for cost of living is a D
Rolling Meadows’ median rent is $1,607 a month. Typical home values rose 7.4% in the year to September 2026.
$337KZillow home value
| Rolling Meadows | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,607 a month | $1,128 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Rolling Meadows$337K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
41
days on market
101.8%
sale-to-list price
+7.4%
value change, 1 year
28
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like Illinois’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Illinois average. Rolling Meadows has lost 2.3% of its people since 2020, down to 23,690 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 16% of residents are 65 or older in Rolling Meadows.
39.5median age · IL 39
| Rolling Meadows | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 39.5 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
Rolling MeadowsIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school25%
Some college14%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s29%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.8 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Rolling Meadows | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.1% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.6% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.5% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.8% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.5% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 14.4% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6.6% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 28.6% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.1% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Rolling Meadows
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 23 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Rolling Meadows.
46risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
23
paid flood claims since 1979
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyB−
Crime per resident in Rolling Meadows is lower than in 52% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 409 to 312 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 16 reported in 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 residents.
The property crime rate in Rolling Meadows is 12.5 per 1,000 residents.
52%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Rolling Meadows | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 12.5 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.7 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Rolling Meadows0.7
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Rolling Meadows12.5
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
52nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
42nd
percentile among IL towns
16
violent crimes reported in 2025
296
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rolling Meadows
20pages on Rolling Meadows
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 77% of IL districtsSafetyB−0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than IL on 15 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$337K typical home · up 7.4% in a yearWork & commuteA−$99K median household income · 25,281 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 46% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
14 within 15 miles of the center of Rolling Meadows
William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity college · Public · Palatine2.5 mi$3,894 in-state tuitionOakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · Des Plaines7.5 mi$3,985 in-state tuitionChamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Addison8.7 mi$21,536 tuition
About 5 of every 100 Rolling Meadows residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois.
About Rolling Meadows
City in Illinois, United States
Rolling Meadows is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 24,200.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1953
- Area
- 5.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 719 ft
- ZIP code
- 60008
Rolling Meadows’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Rolling Meadows.
All 5 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its A−; Schaumburg (A−) is closest.
SchaumburgPalatineArlington HeightsPalatine TownshipWheeling TownshipRolling Meadows
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling Meadows | #279 | A− | D | B− | A− | A |
| Schaumburg | #233 | A− | D | C+ | A | A+ |
| Palatine | #194 | A− | D | B+ | A− | A |
| Arlington Heights | #88 | A | D | B+ | A | A+ |
| Palatine Township | #203 | A− | D | — | A− | A+ |
| Wheeling Township | #199 | A− | D | — | A− | A |
Palatine Township and Wheeling Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Rolling Meadows with a neighbor →
Questions about Rolling Meadows
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rolling Meadows, IL a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Rolling Meadows grades A− overall, better than 75% of U.S. towns and #279 of 767 in Illinois. It grades A for health, B− for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Rolling Meadows, IL expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Rolling Meadows, IL known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Jay Bennett and Scott Tolzien.