CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Chicago Heights

Illinois · 27,480 residents · 10.283 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chicago metro area
Compare
The short version

Chicago Heights has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $49,880. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 5,296 residents. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $107,700. The poverty rate of 24.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 27% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 24%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,480
−16%since 2000
from 32,776 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,672 / sq mi
−16%since 2000
from 3,187 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
35.5
+16%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K28K30K32K34K1990201020202024Chicago Heights
202427K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,880
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,958 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,948
+47%since 2000
from $14,963 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.3%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade14.4%
US avg: 10%
Information8.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical7.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,700
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$918
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $566 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
59.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 62.8% in 2000
40.3% rent
Afford Score
2.2
−15%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chicago Heights on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic36.8%(12,062)
Black37.5%(12,305)
Hispanic / Latino23.8%(7,790)
Asian0.4%(138)
Other0%
Diversity Score82.1%(26,922)
2020
White, non-Hispanic16.1%(4,438)
Black41.8%(11,487)
Hispanic / Latino39%(10,714)
Asian0.3%(74)
Other2.3%(640)
Diversity Score80.4%(22,098)
Diversity Score
80
−2%since 2000
from 82 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
80.9%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.7 min
+44%since 2000
from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 77.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
11.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 16.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
23.9%
−34.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
14.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.6%
−68.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chicago Heights

Oak Ridge
Pop 23,364
East Lake-Orient Park
Pop 29,213
Sweetwater
Pop 20,828
Immokalee
Pop 26,361
Places similar to Chicago Heights
Head to head

Compare Chicago Heights to nearby cities

CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Glenwood
Income$77,391+55%
Home value$198,100+84%
Population8,416−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Steger
Income$66,575+33%
Home value$156,700+45%
Population9,352−65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Flossmoor
Income$133,663+168%
Home value$344,800+220%
Population9,358−65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHICAGO HEIGHTS VS
Park Forest
Income$61,072+22%
Home value$115,300+7%
Population21,079−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chicago Heights, Illinois?

Chicago Heights, Illinois has about 27,480 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chicago Heights, Illinois?

The typical household in Chicago Heights, Illinois earns about $49,880 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 $107,700, and the typical rent is about $918 a month.

How educated are people in Chicago Heights, Illinois?

About 17.1% 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 24.3% 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 5,592 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Chicago Heights with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →