Overview
A small town in Northern Illinois, Prospect Heights is a quiet, residential city with a tight-knit community. For weekend getaways, the city has a metra station that takes residents to places like Downtown Chicago. This gives residents the opportunity to have access to big-city resources and small-town amenities at the same time.
Climate & Geography
Prospect Heights has a humid continental climate with hot summers in the 80s and cold winters falling to an average of 17 degrees.
Located in Cook County, Prospect Heights is directly west of the Des Plaines River and southeast of Lake Arlington. The terrain is mainly flat.
Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment
Residents of Prospect Heights have plenty of options for outdoor recreation. Popular activities include hiking along the River Trail Nature Center, cycling on the Des Plaines River Trail, and boating and fishing at Lake Arlington.
There are several small shopping centers throughout the city, and the larger Randhurst Village is located just outside the city. Residents are also close to the entertainment and events of nearby Chicago, including its beaches, the Chicago Bonatic Garden, and numerous museums.
Cost of Living & Taxes
The cost of living in Prospect Heights is a little higher than state and national averages because of higher housing costs. Transportation costs are also above average, whereas health care and utility costs are below average.
Illinois does not tax any form of retirement income, including Social Security benefits, IRAs, 410(k)s, and private and public pensions. Property taxes are high in the state, but qualifying homeowners over the age of 65 may be able to take advantage of a homestead exemption of $5,000. The city's combined sales tax is 9.5 percent, which is higher than average.
Health Care
The Chicago metro area ranks in the top 85 communities on Gallup's Well-Being Index.
There are no hospitals in Prospect Heights, but the area is surrounded by hospitals that are rated high performing by U.S. News. Some of the closest high performing hospitals include Northwest Community Hospital, Amita Health Elk Grove Village, and Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago, all of which are within 10 miles of the city. Additionally, nearby nationally ranked hospitals include Advocate Luthern General Hospital, NorthShore University HealthSystem-Metro Chicago, and Loyola University Medical Center.