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CITY · INCORPORATED 1837 · 2010 ACS

Chicago

Illinois · 2,695,598 residents · 227.748 sq mi
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The short version

Chicago has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $46,877. Population has declined 7% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $269,200. At a median age of 32.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 32.9
US median: 37.2
More educated
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,695,598
−7%since 2000
from 2,896,016 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
11,836 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 12,716 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
32.9
+4%since 2000
from 31.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
2.7M2.7M2.8M2.9M2.9M1990201020202024Chicago
20242.7M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,877
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,625 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,148
+35%since 2000
from $20,175 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
30.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
20.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.511
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services9.1%
US avg: 7%
Information8.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Public administration6.8%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 7.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$269,200
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $144,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$885
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $616 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
34.3%
−9.5 ptssince 2000
from 43.8% in 2000
55.1% rent
Vacancy rate
13.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
42.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 42.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
5.7
+54%since 2000
from 3.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Chicago on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic31.3%(907,166)
Black36.4%(1,053,739)
Hispanic / Latino26%(753,644)
Asian4.3%(124,437)
Other0%
Diversity Score86%(2,489,626)
2010
White, non-Hispanic31.7%(854,717)
Black32.4%(872,286)
Hispanic / Latino28.9%(778,862)
Asian5.4%(144,903)
Other1.4%(37,204)
Diversity Score88.3%(2,380,626)
Diversity Score
88
+3%since 2000
from 86 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.2%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 25.5% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
79.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
12.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.6 min
+31%since 2000
from 25.6 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
50.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
26.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
5.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
26.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
36.3%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 64.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
21.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
5.1%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Explore

Neighborhoods in Chicago

Albany ParkAndersonvilleArcher HeightsAshburnAvondaleBack of the YardsBelmont CentralBelmont GardensBelmont HeightsBeverlyBrainerdBridgeportBrighton ParkBronzevilleBucktownBudlong WoodsBuena ParkBurnsideCalumet HeightsChathamChicago LawnClearing (W)CraginDouglas ParkDunningEast BeverlyEast ChathamEast Garfield ParkEast Hyde ParkEast SideEast UkrainianEdgewaterEdgewater BeachEdison ParkEnglewoodFernwoodFifth CityFuller ParkGage ParkGalewoodGarfield RidgeGold CoastGoose IslandGraceland WestGrand CrossingGreshamHeart of ChicagoHegewischHermosaHumboldt ParkHyde ParkIda B. Wells - Darrow HomesIllinois Medical DistrictIrving ParkJefferson ParkKelvin ParkKenwoodKilbourn ParkLake CalumetLake ViewLake View EastLincoln ParkLittleLogan SquareLongwood ManorMarquette ParkMayfairMcKinley ParkMontclareMorgan ParkMount GreenwoodNear NorthNear West SideNoble SquareNorth AustinNorth CenterNorth KenwoodNorwood Park EastO'HareO'Hare International AirportOaklandOldOld Irving ParkOld Town TrianglePalmer SquarePark ManorPark WestPilsenPortage ParkPrairie ShoresRavenswoodRiver NorthRogers ParkRoscoeRoselandRosemoorScottsdaleSheffield NeighborsSouth AustinSouth ChicagoSouth LoopSouth ShoreStreetervilleThe BushThe LoopTri-TaylorUkrainianUniversity Village - Little ItalyUptownWashington HeightsWashington ParkWestWest BeverlyWest ChathamWest ChesterfieldWest ElsdonWest EnglewoodWest Garfield ParkWest Humboldt ParkWest LawnWest Loop GateWest PullmanWest Rogers ParkWest WoodlawnWicker ParkWoodlawnWrightwoodWrightwood NeighborsWrigleyvilleNeighborhoods in Chicago
Drill deeper

Places similar to Chicago

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Pop 3,869,089
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Pop 2,397,315
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Pop 1,665,481
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Compare Chicago to nearby cities

CHICAGO VS
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Home value$249,400−7%
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CHICAGO VS
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Home value$299,800+11%
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CHICAGO VS
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Home value$465,500+73%
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CHICAGO VS
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Home value$491,400+83%
Population8,939−100%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Chicago, Illinois?

Chicago, Illinois has about 2,695,598 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chicago, Illinois?

The typical household in Chicago, Illinois earns about $46,877 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Chicago, Illinois expensive?

In Chicago, Illinois, the median home is worth about $269,200, and the typical rent is about $885 a month.

How educated are people in Chicago, Illinois?

About 32.2% of adults age 25 and over in Chicago, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Chicago, Illinois?

About 20.9% of people in Chicago, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Chicago, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Chicago, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 88,128 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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

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