Last Updated on: 19th June 2023, 05:25 pm
Mount Prospect is an incorporated village located in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. With a population of 56,852. It was named Mount Prospect in 1871 as it sat at the highest point in Cook County. Today, the village of Mount Prospect is known for excellent amenities, a bustling events calendar, and a number of parks and recreation facilities. Its mixed-use downtown features urban-influenced townhomes, row houses, restaurants, and entertainment.
Mount Prospect is a great place to live and home to a diverse population, with residents from all walks of life. Whether you’re planning on moving to Mount Prospect, IL, and looking for a place to call home, or you’re just looking for a place to visit, Mount Prospect is sure to have something to offer.
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Where is Mt. Prospect?
Mount Prospect is a village in Wheeling and Elk Grove Townships located within Cook County, Illinois. As a part of the suburbs of Chicago, Mt. Prospect is about 20 miles northwest of Chicago’s downtown and also about 4 miles north of O’Hare International Airport. Visitors and those living in Mount Prospect are served by the Metra Commuter Rail Union Pacific Northwest Line and PACE Bus, which provide commuter rail and bus service within the area.
Mount Prospect isn’t considered part of Chicago, it is technically a Northwest suburb. Directions from Mt Prospect to Chicago, IL can take you a few different routes, including non-toll routes along I-90W, and paid toll routes along I-290W and I-294N. All-in-all, the 23-33 mile drive from Mount Prospect to Chicago can take around 45 minutes to an hour. Mt. Prospect to O’Hare International Airport is a much better drive and takes about 15 minutes.
Mount Prospect, IL Population & Demographics
Mount Prospect’s population was 56,852 as of the 2020 census and has had a population growth rate of .49% the last ten years. Mount Prospect spans over 11 miles and has a population density of 5,354 people per square mile. As such, its population is ranked 13th out of 134 in Cook County.
Fun fact: Ian Brennan, co-creator of Glee and Scream Queens, and Jennifer Morrison of House are among the notable people from Mount Prospect. Let’s take a look at the demographic profile for Mt. Prospect’s population:
Demographics of Mt. Prospect, Illinois
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (NH) | 36,463 | 64.14% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,459 | 2.57% |
| Native American (NH) | 30 | .05% |
| Asian (NH) | 8,192 | 14.41% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 15 | .03% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 169 | .3% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,338 | 2.35% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9,186 | 16.16% |
| Gender | Number | Percentage |
| Males | 26,909 | 49.68% |
| Females | 27,256 | 50.32% |
The 2020 census states the median income for a household in Mount Prospect as $84,353. In 2019, the median income in Mount Prospect, IL, was $79,733, showing annual growth of 5.79%.
Also in 2020, the median age of all people in Mount Prospect, IL was 40.8. Education wise, the population of Mt. Prospect are among the most well-educated in the country. 44.02% of adults in Mount Prospect earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, while the US average is just 21.84%.
Some other noteworthy Mt Prospect, Illinois population information includes:
- In 2008, Mount Prospect was voted the best city in which to raise children.
- The average commute time from Mount Prospect, Illinois was 29.8 minutes.
- The foreign-born population of Mount Prospect was 30% in 2020.
- No households in Mount Prospect, IL reported a non-English language as a primary shared language at home.
- The median property value in Mt Prospect, IL was $332,100 in 2020, and the homeownership rate was 69.2%.
- Mount Prospect, IL has a large population of Vietnam veterans, 1.36 times greater than other conflicts such as Korea or the Gulf War
Mount Prospect, IL is considered safe based on FBI crime statistics, Mount Prospect is safer than 95.2% of all US cities. To put that in perspective, your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in Mount Prospect, IL is one in 893. In America overall, that chance is 1 in 43.
The Mount Prospect Police Department has proudly served the people of Mt Prospect and has 83 officers on staff or 1.46 officers per 1,000 residents as of May 2022.
The Cost of Living in Mount Prospect, Illinois
The cost of living in Mt. Prospect, IL, is 113.7, while the U.S. average is 100. Therefore, living in Mount Prospect is more expensive than in other parts of the United States. You can see the cost of living in Mt. Prospect, IL illustrated below:
| Cost of Living | Mount Prospect | Illinois | USA |
| Overall | 113.7 | 93.4 | 100 |
| Grocery | 99.3 | 94 | 100 |
| Health | 90.6 | 97.2 | 100 |
| Housing | 128.1 | 79.5 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $349,400 | $234,000 | $291,700 |
| Utilities | 95.9 | 97.7 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124.4 | 106.2 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 108.3 | 98.1 | 100 |
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $92,894 per year to afford to live in the Chicago metro area. Here is a further breakdown of expenses to live in Mt. Prospect.
| Housing | $1,299 |
| Food | $800 |
| Child Care | $1,654 |
| Transportation | $1,041 |
| Health Care | $1,176 |
| Other Necessities | $761 |
| Taxes | $1,010 |
| Monthly Total | $7,741 |
| Annual Total | $92,894 |
Typical Chicago Metro Living Expenses:
- Average Basic Chicago Utilities for One Month: $158.24
- Milk (Regular, 1 Gallon): $3.28
- Loaf of White Bread: $2.78
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: $20.00
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course: $80.00
- One-way Ticket (Local Transport): $2.50
- Gasoline (1 Gallon): $5.37
- Source: Numbeo
The median home price of Mount Prospect IL homes for sale is $375,00. This is or 8.2% lower than the national median of $406,074 which has gone up 6.7% since 2021. The average rent in Mt Prospect, Illinois, is $1,482 for an average apartment size of 887 sq. ft, less than the United States average of $1,681, and the average size of an apartment for rent in Mount Prospect is 887 square feet.
Mt. Prospect Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Mt. Prospect
Making a move to Mount Prospect, and want to know if it’s a good place to live? The city of Mount Prospect has a liveability score of 55, which is in the top half of the United States. The most affluent and expensive neighborhoods in Mount Prospect, like Forest River, are in the northeast parts of the city, while more affordable are in the northwest regions.
If you plan to move to Mount Prospect, it may be difficult to find neighborhoods and subdivisions that can fit all budgets. Here’s a quick look at several popular neighborhoods to help narrow your list of Mt. Prospect, IL homes for sale.
Country Club:
Country Club is a reasonably-priced, single-family home neighborhood built in the early 1950s. Country Club is located in Mount Prospect, Illinois on Lincoln and Elmhurst Road.
Bluett:
Bluett is the most expensive subdivision for single-family homes, especially in the area of N. School St. Bluett is located in Mount Prospect, Illinois east of Route 83 and north of Central Road.
Mount Prospect Weather & Climate
The weather in Mt. Prospect is classified as a Humid continental climate zone (or Dfa) and is typical of the Midwest, with hot summers and cold winters. The average high temperature in July is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low temperature in January is 19 degrees Fahrenheit. January and December are the least comfortable months in Mount Prospect, while June, September and August are the most pleasant.
Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 36 inches of both rain and snow per year. The village lies within U.S.D.A Hardiness zone 5b, along the fringe of zone 6a.
Things to Do in Mt. Prospect, IL
Mount Prospect is home to a variety of businesses, including restaurants, shopping centers, and parks and a walkable and quaint village green. Some of the best things to do in Mt. Prospect is to visit museums and attractions like the Mt. Prospect Historical Society and the Mount Prospect Festival of Lights. Shopping in Mount Prospect is popular at Randhurst Village, Mount Prospect Center, and Woodfield Mall.
Visitors to Mt. Prospect can also enjoy a variety of activities, such as hiking some of the many public green spaces that belong to local part district and forest preserves.
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Camp Pine Woods:
- One of the best Mount Prospect family activities for sightseeing will take you on a walk through a preserve composed of oak woodland at Camp Pine Woods. See if you can find the remnants of a WWII POW camp!
- Camp Pine Woods, Central Rd, Glenview, IL 60025 (800) 870-3666
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Ball Factory Mount Prospect:
- A women-owned, indoor playground and for kid-friendly activities. Offers a cafe and private party rooms!
- 1042 Elmhurst Rd, Mt Prospect, IL 60056 (224) 244-9580
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Additional Attractions in Mount Prospect:
Looking for more things to do in Mount Prospect? The mission of the Mount Prospect Parks District is to provide exceptional parks and recreation experiences that enrich the quality of life for present and future generations. Check out the Mount Prospect Event Calendar!
Mt Prospect Restaurants
In Mount Prospect, traditional Italian dishes and pizzarias are extremely popular. Taste your favorite Italian food at Avanti Caffé No matter what you’re in the mood for, Mt. Prospect restaurants offer something to suit your appetite.Here are just a few of the many places to eat in Mount Prospect:
- Jameson’s Charhouse: A classic American chophouse in an upmarket setting.
- 1702 W Algonquin Rd, Mt Prospect, IL 60056 (847) 956-1500
- Honey Biscuit Mount Prospect: A welcoming spot to grab hearty breakfast and lunch classics.
- 106 W Northwest Hwy, Mt Prospect, IL 60056 (847) 749-1766
- The Red Barn Restaurant and Brewery: The perfect place for comfort food and weekend live music.
- 303 E Kensington Rd, Mt Prospect, IL 60056 (847) 749-0064
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Jobs in Mount Prospect, IL
About to move to Mt. Prospect, and wondering where you’ll work? According to Mount Prospect’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2017, the top employers in Mount Prospect were CVS Caremark, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, and the Cummins-Allison Corporation. According to Payscale, Mount Prospect’s average salary is $70,000/yr and $18.86/hr.
The unemployment rate in Mount Prospect, IL is 3.6%—below the U.S. average of 6.0%. Recent job growth, however, was in a decline over the last year. The job market in Mount Prospect has decreased by .2%. Future job growth in Mt. Prospect in the next 10 years is predicted to be 26.6%, lower than the U.S. average of 33.5%.
Looking for a job in Mount Prospect, IL? Indeed’s Mount Prospect job board is a good place to start.
Mt Prospect Schools
There are top-rated public schools in the Mount Prospect School District 57 based on academic performance and equity. Schools in Mount Prospect also have a student teacher ratio of 14:1, and an 88% high school graduation rate.
There are two branches of the Mount Prospect Public Library offering at-home access, digital services, and more.
Mount Prospect Statistics and More information
- County: Cook County
- Mt. Prospect Area: 10.765 mi²
- Mt. Prospect, IL ZIP Code: 60056–6005
- Mt. Prospect Area code(s): 847
- Mt. Prospect Elevation: 669′
- Mt. Prospect Time Zone: CST
- Closest Airport to Mt. Prospect: It is 10 miles to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD / KORD) and 36 miles to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW / KMDW)
Mount Prospect, IL Map
Explore more things to do, find places to eat, or learn more with this map of Mount Prospect!
Feeling Ready for that Move to Mt. Prospect, IL?
There you have it, the complete guide to moving to and living in Mt. Prospect, IL! As you pack your boxes, reach out to Federal Companies movers! We’re a leader among moving companies in East Peoria, IL & the Greater Chicago, IL & St. Louis, MO areas. We’ll be the first to welcome you to the neighborhood!
