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CITY

Carol Stream

Illinois · 39,315 residents (2025 est.) · 9.124 sq mi
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The short version

Carol Stream is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $102,309. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $335,000. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,460
−2%since 2000
from 40,438 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,325 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 4,432 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+29%since 2000
from 31.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:39,315 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
31K33K36K39K41K1990201020202024Carol Stream
202439K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$102,309
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,893 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,625
+81%since 2000
from $25,152 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
65.3%
+18.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.398
+6%since 2010
from 0.377 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$335,000
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $166,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,529
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $798 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
32.7% rent
Vacancy rate
3.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.6%
−11.8 ptssince 2009
from 35.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.9%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+28%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carol Stream on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic73%(29,524)
Black4.2%(1,689)
Hispanic / Latino10%(4,055)
Asian11.1%(4,496)
Other0%
Diversity Score53%(21,419)
2024
White, non-Hispanic50.1%(19,782)
Black6.3%(2,501)
Hispanic / Latino18.5%(7,281)
Asian19.3%(7,618)
Other5.8%(2,278)
Diversity Score83.8%(33,048)
Diversity Score
84
+58%since 2000
from 53 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.8%
+10.8 ptssince 2000
from 32.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 89.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.1 min
+30%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.7%
−13.5 ptssince 2009
from 84.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.8%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.5%
−8.1 ptssince 2011
from 76.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.1%
−19.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
28.2%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.2%
−45.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 8.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−84.1 ptssince 2013
from 89.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.3%
+4.6 ptssince 2017
from 87.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
59.1%
−10.2 ptssince 2016
from 69.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.2%
+4.7 ptssince 2016
from 10.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Carol Stream to nearby cities

CAROL STREAM VS
Glendale Heights
Income$86,545−15%
Home value$261,700−22%
Population32,655−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROL STREAM VS
Winfield
Income$135,795+33%
Home value$386,300+15%
Population10,146−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROL STREAM VS
Bloomingdale
Income$102,928+1%
Home value$376,500+12%
Population22,476−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROL STREAM VS
Bartlett
Income$133,240+30%
Home value$375,700+12%
Population40,855+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carol Stream, Illinois?

Carol Stream, Illinois has about 39,460 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carol Stream, Illinois?

The typical household in Carol Stream, Illinois earns about $102,309 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carol Stream, Illinois expensive?

In Carol Stream, Illinois, the median home is worth about $335,000, and the typical rent is about $1,529 a month.

How educated are people in Carol Stream, Illinois?

About 42.8% of adults age 25 and over in Carol Stream, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carol Stream, Illinois?

About 6.4% of people in Carol Stream, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carol Stream, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Carol Stream, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,744 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Carol Stream, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy