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
median household income $54,798, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Chicago Heights
What changed most since 1990
Hispanic share14.6% → 35.5%(+20.9 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
White share50.1% → 21.4%(−28.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population33,072 → 26,736(−19%)US over the same years: +35%
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.6%(246)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era28.9%(278)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.7%(26)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(5)
US avg: 1%
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
Over time
Chicago Heights, decade by decade
Chicago Heights population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
33,072
$66,124
$147,844
11.6%
75.8
2000
32,776
$67,325
$171,236
12.3%
83.4
2010
30,276
$56,064
$194,782
13.6%
82.9
2020
27,480
$60,457
$130,537
17.1%
80.8
2024
26,736
$54,798
$161,000
20.9%
83.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
