Geo Sollitt Const, 2011
Wood Dale’s story
131 years in pictures
Census counts: 230 in 1930, 14,012 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2011 and 8 maps from 1891 on.
- 1895Wood Dale is settled
Wood DaleIL
A town of 14,081, settled in 1895.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Mpen320 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
14,081
2025 Census estimate · −1.2% since 2020
Typical home
$353K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$91K
median
Median age
42.3
years
Jobs based here
12,357
A job hub
TownGrade
B
#405 of 767 in IL
Is Wood Dale a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Wood Dale grades B overall, ranked 405th of 767 in Illinois. It has 5 miles of trail. The median household earns $91K. The trade-off is money: homes are expensive, about $353K for a typical one and 3.9 times the Chicago metro’s $91K median household income. 17% of the land in Wood Dale is conserved, above both the Illinois town median (3.6%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Wood Dale is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 76% of U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is North Salt Creek County Forest Preserve, at 21 acres.
What makes Wood Dale stand out
Where Wood Dale beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here12,357
Residents who work6,432
Work
1.9 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
2.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Get outside
5 miles of trails in Wood Dale
16.9% of the town is conserved land, across 7 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Wood Dale grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Wood Dale is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.9 of 20; 3.2% of households have no carA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA−Open →HealthAlexian Brothers Medical Center 1 3.2 miles awayB+Open →SafetyBOpen →SchoolsBehind 58% of Illinois districts on tests and graduationC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life4.5 library visits per resident; 2.1 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 171 attractions →Wrigley Field and 155 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Wood Dale. Close and well known come first.
Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaWrigley Field
Big draw20 mi Stadium & arenaSoldier Field
6 mi Stadium & arenaAllstate Arena
Big draw24 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
Big draw20 mi Stadium & arenaRate Field
Big draw17 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
.jpg){kind=link}
_-_Chicago,_IL_-_June_2026.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Wood Dale: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wood Dale, and how to reach them.
PowerCommonwealth Edison17.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWood Dale water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offGroot, 4 miOpenStreetMap
SchoolsFenton Community High School District 100Wood Dale School District 72 districts serve Wood Dale; 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 hereDuPage County Clerk - Election DivisionDuPage County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6019160191 100%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 Wood Dale.
Wood Dale carries less natural-hazard risk than nearly all of Illinois (mostly inland flooding), draws workers from Chicago and beyond and is safe by national standards but not by Illinois’s.
OutdoorsA+
For the outdoors, Wood Dale earns an A+
Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #12 of 768 in Illinois.
Wood Dale’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile, above both Illinois’ towns (0.3) and U.S. towns (0.4). 5.4 miles of trail in 7 parks and preserves.
#86for trails in IL
16.9%
conserved · 535 of 3,160 acres
5.4 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Noth Salt Creek Forest Preserve;North Salt Creek County Forest Preserve | — | 109 |
| 2. North Salt Creek County Forest Preserve | — | 21 |
| 3. White Oak Park | — | 20 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most working residents commute out of Wood Dale
12,357 jobs are based in Wood Dale, 1.9 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
Most working residents leave Wood Dale for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, Wood Dale has lost 1,096 jobs, to 12,357 in 2023. 15% of workers work from home in Wood Dale.
6%work in town
| Wood Dale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 15% | 11% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $91,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Wood Dale6%
Chicago15%
Elk Grove Village5%
Schaumburg4%
Bensenville4%
8 mi
median commute distance
12,357
jobs based in Wood Dale
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Very low risk in Wood Dale, with inland flooding at the top
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 95% of Illinois towns, with expected losses of about $289 per resident a year; that rating is what its A− for hazard risk is built on. 207 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 10 properties have flooded more than once.
Wood Dale’s FEMA risk score is 16 of 100. Since 1978, 207 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Wood Dale.
16risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
207
paid flood claims since 1978
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Residents of Wood Dale are healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Wood Dale beats the Illinois average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 19% of Wood Dale adults have been diagnosed with depression.
74%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Wood Dale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 37% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
1 better29 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Wood Dale | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.8% | 10.3% |
Alexian Brothers Medical Center 1
3.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
62nd
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Wood Dale has four seasons and pleasant summers
Wood Dale has chilly, snowy winters and warm 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°
Spring38–59°
Summer62–82°
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
For cost of living, Wood Dale earns a D
The median rent in Wood Dale is $1,675 a month. The typical Wood Dale home is worth about $353,000, up 4.3% in a year, 19% above the Illinois typical home.
$353KZillow home value
| Wood Dale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,675 a month | $1,128 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Wood Dale$353K
Illinois$296K
Market temperature
41
days on market
98.9%
sale-to-list price
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
14
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB
Wood Dale reports less crime per resident than 64% of U.S. towns
At 13.3 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 50% of Illinois’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 9 reported in 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
64%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Wood Dale0.6
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Wood Dale9.1
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
64th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
50th
percentile among IL towns
9
violent crimes reported in 2025
127
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Illinois overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (39% statewide). 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 38% across Illinois.
42.3median age · IL 39
| Wood Dale | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 19% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 42.3 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
Wood DaleIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma13%
High school32%
Some college17%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.9 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Wood Dale | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.1% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.1% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.6% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.7% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.2% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.6% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.7% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.1% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.9% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 13.3% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.9% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.2% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.7% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.7% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.2% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wood Dale
20pages on Wood Dale
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 58% of IL districtsSafetyB0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than IL on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$353K typical home · up 4.3% in a yearWork & commuteA−$91K median household income · 12,357 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
22 within 15 miles of the center of Wood Dale
Chamberlain University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Addison3.2 mi$21,536 tuitionTriton CollegeCommunity college · Public · River Grove8 mi$5,070 in-state tuitionNortheastern Illinois UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Chicago13.5 mi$12,383 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Wood Dale residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Illinois.
A job hub
Every workday, about 11,960 people come to Wood Dale for work
Where Wood Dale’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
12,357jobs based in Wood Dale
6%of working residents work in town
8 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Wood Dale
City in Illinois, United States
Wood Dale is a city in Addison Township, DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 14,012.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1928
- Area
- 5.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 686 ft
- ZIP code
- 60191, 60399
- Area code
- 630
Wood Dale’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Wood Dale.
ItascaBensenvilleAddisonElk Grove VillageWood Dale
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Dale | #405 | B | D | B | C+ | B+ |
| Itasca | #24 | A+ | D | A− | A | A+ |
| Bensenville | #446 | B | C | B | B− | B |
| Addison | #430 | B | C | B | C+ | B |
| Elk Grove Village | #303 | B+ | D | B− | A− | A |
Questions about Wood Dale
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wood Dale, IL a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Wood Dale grades B overall, better than 60% of U.S. towns and #405 of 767 in Illinois. It grades B+ for health, B for safety and C+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Wood Dale, 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.