Lake County · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin · population 6,565
Where Winthrop Harbor stands
At or near all-time high. home values up 16.3% in the last year. averaging 9.8% annual growth over 5 years. population shrinking 0.5% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Winthrop Harbor has averaged 9.8% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+16.3% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.
Winthrop Harbor's population is shrinking 0.5% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.
About Winthrop Harbor
Winthrop Harbor is a city in Lake County, Illinois, with an estimated population of 6,565. It anchors the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. The population has contracted 0.5% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Winthrop Harbor is $303,590 as of 2026-04, up 16.3% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +9.8% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 79 of 100 (Hot). Buyers should expect competition and limited negotiation room in this market.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
Playbook
Expect competition, escalation clauses, and pressure to waive inspections. Make your strongest offer up front — Hot markets reward decisiveness, not negotiation. If you can't write a clean offer, you may not be the best fit for this market right now.
Price slightly above recent comps and let multiple offers work. Days-on-market should be short. Don't accept the first offer in the first 48 hours unless it's significantly above ask.
Cap rates will look ugly in a Hot market — your thesis has to be appreciation, not yield. Don't expect cash flow; expect to ride the trend and exit before it stalls.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Lake County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Lake County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Winthrop Harbor
Run the numbers for Winthrop Harbor
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Winthrop Harbor listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Winthrop Harbor
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.