Mold Removal Cost And Risk In Cook County, IL

A typical professional mold job in Cook County runs about $1,550 to $6,200 before rebuild, using the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN price level. Below are the 166 ZIP code neighborhoods, the age of the homes, FEMA's water hazard ratings and Illinois rules.

1961Median year homes were built

74%Homes built before 1980

42%Homes rented, not owned

$305,200Median home value

2,270,349Housing units

5,185,812People

Housing figures from Census ACS 2019 to 2023. Remediation workers here earn a median $29.49 an hour, BLS May 2025 wage survey.

Half the homes in Cook County were built before 1961, and 74 percent went up before 1980. Older plumbing, roofs and window seals are where slow leaks start, and slow leaks are the mold most home policies leave out. About 42 percent of homes in Cook County are rented, so most households here carry an owner's policy on the building itself.

Housing age swings by neighborhood. ZIP 60043 has the oldest homes here, a median year of 1938, and ZIP 60603 the newest, 2004.

Typical Prices In Cook County

Job	Size	National Range	Cook County Estimate
Mold Remediation	a typical professional job	$1,500 to $6,000	$1,550 to $6,200
Mold Remediation	an attic	$2,000 to $7,500	$2,050 to $7,750
Mold Inspection and Testing	a visual inspection	$200 to $600	$200 to $600
Mold Inspection and Testing	an inspection with samples	$300 to $1,000	$300 to $1,050
Mold Inspection and Testing	a clearance test	$300 to $800	$300 to $850

Estimate is the national range times 103.6 divided by 100, the price level for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, rounded to $50. National ranges from Remediational cost guide, price level from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.

The standard limited fungi endorsement caps mold at $5,000. Against a typical job here of up to $6,200, that cap falls short by about $1,200 at the top of that range. Read the form

Water Hazards FEMA Rates Here

FEMA rates Cook County high for inland flooding, cold wave, winter weather. Water from these events is where mold claims start, and flood water is a separate policy. FloodSmart says mold damage is not covered under standard NFIP flood policies. FloodSmart

Hazard	FEMA Risk Rating
Inland flooding	Very High
Coastal flooding	Relatively Low
Hurricane	Very Low
Cold wave	Very High
Winter weather	Very High

Source FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025, county level.

ZIP Code Neighborhoods In Cook County

ZIP	Area	Median Year Built	Built Before 1980	Median Home Value
60004	Arlington Heights	1975	60%	$415,100
60005	Arlington Heights	1972	73%	$376,200
60007	Elk Grove Village	1974	69%	$334,800
60008	Rolling Meadows	1971	70%	$295,000
60010	Barrington Hills	1982	46%	$622,900
60016	Des Plaines	1971	69%	$300,700
60018	Chicago	1965	76%	$302,400
60022	Glencoe	1955	69%	$1,345,200
60025	Glenview	1969	72%	$512,400
60026	Glenview	1997	28%	$663,100
60029	Golf	1965	65%	$957,600
60043	Kenilworth	1938	81%	$1,409,800
60053	Morton Grove	1960	79%	$377,000
60056	Mount Prospect	1969	78%	$376,300
60062	Northbrook	1976	59%	$625,800
60067	Palatine	1979	53%	$427,900
60068	Park Ridge	1960	78%	$539,700
60070	Prospect Heights	1976	61%	$343,100
60074	Palatine	1976	63%	$307,800
60076	Skokie	1958	89%	$381,000
60077	Skokie	1962	82%	$327,400
60090	Wheeling	1980	50%	$243,500
60091	Wilmette	1956	82%	$800,100
60093	Winnetka	1957	73%	$1,073,700
60104	Bellwood	1955	91%	$219,300
60107	Streamwood	1981	48%	$258,300
60120	Elgin	1969	67%	$227,000
60130	Forest Park	1949	88%	$293,800
60131	Franklin Park	1956	91%	$261,800
60141	Cook County	1969	56%	Not published
60153	Maywood	1938	92%	$212,600
60154	Westchester	1957	88%	$297,400
60155	Broadview	1954	93%	$240,600
60160	Melrose Park	1957	80%	$265,000
60162	Hillside	1960	85%	$233,800
60163	Berkeley	1955	97%	$223,200
60164	Northlake	1957	89%	$240,400
60165	Stone Park	1963	79%	$218,300
60169	Hoffman Estates	1972	77%	$292,300
60171	River Grove	1961	88%	$244,700
60173	Schaumburg	1984	40%	$311,200
60176	Schiller Park	1963	81%	$276,200
60192	Hoffman Estates	1986	37%	$413,500
60193	Schaumburg	1977	63%	$317,900
60194	Schaumburg	1980	52%	$310,600
60195	Schaumburg	1981	48%	$239,900
60201	Evanston	1955	72%	$577,800
60202	Evanston	1951	83%	$381,300
60203	Skokie	1956	83%	$469,400
60301	Oak Park	1997	39%	$230,300
60302	Oak Park	1938	90%	$450,700
60304	Oak Park	1938	94%	$470,100
60305	River Forest	1945	88%	$676,900
60402	Berwyn	1938	94%	$277,800
60406	Blue Island	1963	72%	$166,000
60409	Calumet City	1968	82%	$133,600
60411	Chicago Heights	1968	71%	$148,200
60415	Chicago Ridge	1973	64%	$217,800
60418	Crestwood	1975	64%	$187,600
60419	Dolton	1965	86%	$140,500
60422	Flossmoor	1967	69%	$304,400
60425	Glenwood	1968	94%	$182,000
60426	Harvey	1961	84%	$88,500
60428	Markham	1963	83%	$118,900
60429	Hazel Crest	1969	77%	$180,800
60430	Homewood	1962	89%	$209,100
60438	Lansing	1966	86%	$168,600
60439	Cook County	1992	32%	$466,800
60443	Matteson	1991	35%	$229,000
60445	Midlothian	1964	79%	$201,700
60452	Oak Forest	1975	63%	$249,100
60453	Oak Lawn	1967	78%	$267,900
60455	Bridgeview	1975	56%	$234,400
60456	Hometown	1955	98%	$152,000
60457	Hickory Hills	1970	72%	$278,000
60458	Justice	1977	59%	$223,800
60459	Burbank	1965	77%	$258,900
60461	Olympia Fields	1980	50%	$289,000
60462	Orland Park	1982	45%	$330,400
60463	Palos Heights	1974	63%	$343,700
60464	Cook County	1983	42%	$463,100
60465	Palos Hills	1977	63%	$259,200
60466	Park Forest	1958	90%	$106,100
60467	Orland Park	1995	12%	$392,200
60469	Posen	1960	72%	$173,900
60471	Richton Park	1978	59%	$200,800
60472	Robbins	1963	73%	$114,200
60473	South Holland	1967	86%	$200,000
60475	Steger	1966	76%	$137,200
60476	Thornton	1957	90%	$146,600
60477	Tinley Park	1981	49%	$262,400
60478	Country Club Hills	1976	61%	$180,900
60480	Cook County	1976	57%	$355,600
60482	Worth	1968	74%	$216,800
60487	Tinley Park	1994	20%	$339,600
60501	Summit	1957	88%	$227,300
60513	Brookfield	1952	93%	$314,000
60525	Countryside	1967	70%	$422,500
60526	La Grange Park	1956	88%	$427,800
60534	Lyons	1958	76%	$243,500
60546	Riverside	1949	94%	$377,600
60558	Western Springs	1960	77%	$691,300
60601	Chicago	2002	24%	$495,400
60602	Chicago	1942	80%	$383,300
60603	Chicago	2004	36%	$608,100
60604	Chicago	1938	92%	$577,700
60605	Chicago	2003	26%	$495,900
60606	Chicago	2003	33%	$366,500
60607	Chicago	2002	32%	$494,300
60608	Chicago	1938	74%	$341,500
60609	Chicago	1938	77%	$251,600
60610	Chicago	1978	54%	$543,000
60611	Chicago	1986	42%	$608,200
60612	Chicago	1973	54%	$331,600
60613	Chicago	1956	78%	$397,800
60614	Chicago	1971	64%	$730,700
60615	Chicago	1956	79%	$305,200
60616	Chicago	1969	61%	$387,300
60617	Chicago	1941	93%	$168,200
60618	Chicago	1938	77%	$538,300
60619	Chicago	1946	89%	$213,000
60620	Chicago	1949	88%	$187,900
60621	Chicago	1943	84%	$161,900
60622	Chicago	1946	63%	$622,900
60623	Chicago	1938	88%	$221,400
60624	Chicago	1941	79%	$223,200
60625	Chicago	1938	84%	$396,700
60626	Chicago	1942	85%	$269,000
60628	Chicago	1949	93%	$158,500
60629	Chicago	1952	89%	$236,300
60630	Chicago	1945	83%	$362,900
60631	Chicago	1954	86%	$431,400
60632	Chicago	1944	90%	$240,600
60633	Chicago	1957	83%	$182,100
60634	Chicago	1952	83%	$333,900
60636	Chicago	1938	89%	$150,600
60637	Chicago	1949	79%	$243,700
60638	Chicago	1958	87%	$283,500
60639	Chicago	1938	90%	$289,000
60640	Chicago	1944	80%	$363,300
60641	Chicago	1938	88%	$373,200
60642	Chicago	1991	44%	$604,200
60643	Chicago	1950	90%	$233,900
60644	Chicago	1942	90%	$238,300
60645	Chicago	1953	91%	$308,200
60646	Chicago	1953	90%	$493,600
60647	Chicago	1938	75%	$557,300
60649	Chicago	1943	90%	$199,500
60651	Chicago	1938	88%	$262,700
60652	Chicago	1957	93%	$235,000
60653	Chicago	1972	60%	$347,800
60654	Chicago	2003	25%	$495,900
60655	Chicago	1954	88%	$303,300
60656	Chicago	1965	80%	$344,400
60657	Chicago	1962	73%	$534,500
60659	Chicago	1945	90%	$358,800
60660	Chicago	1951	85%	$287,500
60661	Chicago	2000	21%	$397,700
60706	Norridge	1964	78%	$347,600
60707	Elmwood Park	1954	82%	$315,300
60712	Lincolnwood	1959	75%	$475,400
60714	Niles	1964	77%	$351,100
60803	Alsip	1973	68%	$200,600
60804	Cicero	1938	94%	$236,000
60805	Evergreen Park	1955	93%	$255,700
60827	Riverdale	1956	88%	$123,800

ZIP areas are Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, placed in the county that holds most of their land, per the Census 2020 ZIP relationship files.

Illinois Rules On Mold

Illinois Mold And Insurance Rules

Mold from slow leaks, humidity or drainage problems is probably not covered. IDOI Mold Facts
In Illinois, mold from water used after a covered fire or lightning loss is covered up to the full policy limit. IDOI Mold Facts
Some insurers cap mold claims at a set amount, such as $5,000. IDOI Mold Facts
Some insurers exclude mold but sell it back for an extra charge. IDOI Mold Facts
Licensing is not required for mold remediators in Illinois, and there are no state standards for them. IDOI Mold Facts

All Illinois Mold And Insurance Rules lines

Illinois Department of Insurance

Whether mold is covered depends on what caused it and on your policy. Mold Facts
Mold from long term seepage, humidity, condensation or drainage problems would probably not be covered. Mold Facts
In Illinois mold from water damage after a covered fire or lightning loss is covered up to the full policy limit. Mold Facts
Some insurers cap mold claims at a set dollar amount such as 5,000 dollars. Mold Facts
Some insurers exclude all mold but sell a buy back endorsement that adds some mold coverage for extra money. Mold Facts

All Illinois Department of Insurance lines

All Illinois counties