United States › Illinois › Chicago Heights CITY
Chicago Heights Illinois · 26,508 residents (2025 est.) · 10.3 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 26,736 people, Chicago Heights is a city in Illinois. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 26.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $161,000. Households here earn about 34% less than in Illinois as a whole. The median age is 35.2, younger than the US median of 38.9.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 6%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 32,776 in 2000
26,508 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,600 / sq mi
−13%since 2009
from 2,974 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K 28K 30K 32K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Chicago Heights Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $54,798
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,958 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,963 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 12.1%
Public administration 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$161,000
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,038
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $566 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 62.8% in 2000
36.6% rent
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.81 people
−12%since 2009
from 3.19 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 38.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 36.8%(12,062)
Hispanic / Latino 23.8%(7,790)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 21.4%(5,728)
Hispanic / Latino 35.5%(9,481)
from 83 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 71.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 16.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 69.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 20.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 85.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 72.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 25.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 54.5%(5,586)
Women 15+
Never married 42.1%(4,444)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 45.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 16.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 32.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 53.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 44.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 16.2%(156)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.6%(246)
Share of the 961 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Chicago Heights Head to head
Compare Chicago Heights to nearby cities CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Glenwood
Income $77,391 +41%
Home value $198,100 +23%
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CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Steger
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CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Flossmoor
Income $133,663 +144%
Home value $344,800 +114%
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CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Park Forest
Income $61,072 +11%
Home value $115,300 −28%
Population 21,079 −20%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Chicago Heights, Illinois? Chicago Heights, Illinois has about 26,736 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Chicago Heights, Illinois? The typical household in Chicago Heights, Illinois earns about $54,798 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Chicago Heights, Illinois expensive? In Chicago Heights, Illinois, the median home is worth about $161,000, and the typical rent is about $1,038 a month.
How educated are people in Chicago Heights, Illinois? About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Chicago Heights, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Chicago Heights, Illinois? About 26.9% of people in Chicago Heights, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Chicago Heights, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Chicago Heights, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,336 residents, a change of about -19 percent over that period.
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