CITY · INCORPORATED 1837 · 2020 ACS

Chicago

Illinois · 2,746,388 residents · 227.748 sq mi

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The short version

Chicago has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $62,097. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $267,600.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $66,278

Younger

median age 35.1

US median: 38.8

More educated

41% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 33%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $265,253

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

2,746,388

−5%since 2000

from 2,896,016 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Population density

12,059 / sq mi

−5%since 2000

from 12,716 / sq mi in 2000

US average: 280

Median age

35.1

+11%since 2000

from 31.5 in 2000

US average: 38.8

Population, 1990 – 2024

20242.7M

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$62,097

+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000

from $38,625 in 2000

US average: $66,278

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$39,068

+94%since 2000

from $20,175 in 2000

US average: $35,364

Households earning $100K+

42.8%

+12.8 ptssince 2009

from 30.0% in 2009

US average: 43.9%

Poverty rate

17.3%

−2.3 ptssince 2000

from 19.6% in 2000

US average: 12.8%

Workforce by industry, 2020

Other services8.4%

US avg: 6.6%

Information8.2%

US avg: 11.1%

Retail trade7.8%

US avg: 10%

Finance & insurance6.9%

US avg: 5.5%

Professional, scientific, technical6.5%

US avg: 4.7%

Public administration6.1%

US avg: 4.7%

Wholesale trade4%

US avg: 6.7%

Arts, entertainment, food2.2%

US avg: 2%

Transportation & warehousing2.2%

US avg: 2.5%

Education & health services0.4%

US avg: 0.8%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%

US avg: 1.7%

Construction0.1%

US avg: 1.2%

Manufacturing0%

US avg: 0.5%

BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$267,600

+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000

from $144,300 in 2000

US average: $265,253

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$1,154

+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000

from $616 in 2000

US average: $1,124

Owner-occupied

41.3%

−2.5 ptssince 2000

from 43.8% in 2000

58.7% rent

Afford Score

4.3

+15%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)

2020

White, non-Hispanic31.4%(863,622)

Black28.7%(787,551)

Hispanic / Latino29.8%(819,518)

Asian6.9%(189,857)

Other2.5%(68,961)

Diversity Score90.1%(2,475,238)

Diversity Score

+5%since 2000

from 86 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

41.1%

+15.6 ptssince 2000

from 25.5% in 2000

US average: 32.9%

High school or higher

85.9%

+14.1 ptssince 2000

from 71.8% in 2000

US average: 88.5%

Graduate degree

17.1%

+7.1 ptssince 2000

from 10.0% in 2000

US average: 12.7%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

34.7 min

+35%since 2000

from 25.6 min in 2000

US average: 26.9

Drive alone to work

48.1%

−3.1 ptssince 2009

from 51.3% in 2009

US average: 75.1%

No vehicle available

26.8%

+1.1 ptssince 2009

from 25.7% in 2009

US average: 8.4%

Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate

8.1%

−3.9 ptssince 2011

from 12.0% in 2011

US average: 5.4%

Labor force participation

67.2%

+1.1 ptssince 2011

from 66.1% in 2011

US average: 63.4%

Management & professional

44.2%

−20.3 ptssince 2009

from 64.5% in 2009

US average: 39.3%

Section 08

People & community

Male

48.6%

−0.2 ptssince 2009

from 48.7% in 2009

Female

51.4%

+0.2 ptssince 2009

from 51.3% in 2009

Foreign born

20.3%

−0.8 ptssince 2009

from 21.0% in 2009

US average: 13.5%

Uninsured

9.6%

−70.7 ptssince 2013

from 80.3% in 2013

US average: 8.8%

Explore

Neighborhoods in Chicago

Albany Park Andersonville Archer Heights Ashburn Avondale Back of the Yards Belmont Central Belmont Gardens Belmont Heights Beverly Brainerd Bridgeport Brighton Park Bronzeville Bucktown Budlong Woods Buena Park Burnside Calumet Heights Chatham Chicago Lawn Clearing (W)Cragin Douglas Park Dunning East Beverly East Chatham East Garfield Park East Hyde Park East Side East Ukrainian Edgewater Edgewater Beach Edison Park Englewood Fernwood Fifth City Fuller Park Gage Park Galewood Garfield Ridge Gold Coast Goose Island Graceland West Grand Crossing Gresham Heart of Chicago Hegewisch Hermosa Humboldt Park Hyde Park Ida B. Wells - Darrow Homes Illinois Medical District Irving Park Jefferson Park Kelvin Park Kenwood Kilbourn Park Lake Calumet Lake View Lake View East Lincoln Park Little Logan Square Longwood Manor Marquette Park Mayfair McKinley Park Montclare Morgan Park Mount Greenwood Near North Near West Side Noble Square North Austin North Center North Kenwood Norwood Park East O'Hare O'Hare International Airport Oakland Old Old Irving Park Old Town Triangle Palmer Square Park Manor Park West Pilsen Portage Park Prairie Shores Ravenswood River North Rogers Park Roscoe Roseland Rosemoor Scottsdale Sheffield Neighbors South Austin South Chicago South Loop South Shore Streeterville The Bush The Loop Tri-Taylor Ukrainian University Village - Little Italy Uptown Washington Heights Washington Park West West Beverly West Chatham West Chesterfield West Elsdon West Englewood West Garfield Park West Humboldt Park West Lawn West Loop Gate West Pullman West Rogers Park West Woodlawn Wicker Park Woodlawn Wrightwood Wrightwood Neighbors Wrigleyville

Drill deeper

Places similar to Chicago

Head to head

Compare Chicago to nearby cities

CHICAGO VS

Cicero

Income$70,842+14%

Home value$249,400−7%

Population81,858−97%

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CHICAGO VS

Berwyn

Income$78,408+26%

Home value$299,800+12%

Population55,001−98%

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CHICAGO VS

Oak Park

Income$110,820+78%

Home value$465,500+74%

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CHICAGO VS

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Income$153,686+147%

Home value$491,400+84%

Population8,939−100%

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Chicago, Illinois?

Chicago, Illinois has about 2,746,388 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Chicago, Illinois?

The typical household in Chicago, Illinois earns about $62,097 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 $267,600, and the typical rent is about $1,154 a month.

How educated are people in Chicago, Illinois?

About 41.1% 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 17.3% 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 37,338 residents, a change of about -1 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 →