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CITY

Downers Grove

Illinois · 50,365 residents (2025 est.) · 14.7 sq mi
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The short version

Downers Grove is a city of 50,054 people in Illinois. This is an unusually credentialed place: 58% of adults have a four-year degree. That puts it in the top 5% of US cities for household income. That is roughly 38% ahead of the Illinois median. The median age is 43.6, about 5 years above the US median. Density works out to 3,416 people per square mile.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $115,114, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
58% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Downers Grove

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$345,370 → $449,800 (+30%)US over the same years: +67%
  • White share92.1% → 80.9% (−11.2 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Hispanic share2.0% → 5.9% (+3.9 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts

Among the 394 cities and towns in the Chicago metro

  • 111th in household income$115,114
  • 69th in share with a bachelor's degree58.2%
  • 60th in home value$449,800
  • 269th in diversity score42.0

Its weight in DuPage County

Downers Grove's population equals 5.4% of DuPage County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 2.6% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
50,054
+3%since 2000
from 48,724 in 2000
50,365 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,416 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 3,325 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.6
+12%since 2000
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
14.7 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
47K48K49K50K51K19902000201020202024Downers Grove
202450K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(2,896)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(3,359)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(2,837)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.7%(2,842)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.5%(1,758)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(5,759)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(6,447)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.1%(6,546)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(7,120)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.6%(6,286)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.1%(3,065)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.3%(1,139)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$115,114
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,539 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$67,928
+115%since 2000
from $31,580 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
65.3%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.492
+9%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services10.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration8.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade7.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$449,800
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $195,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,656
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $768 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.2% in 2000
24.8% rent
Vacancy rate
4.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.39 people
−3%since 2009
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
−12.0 ptssince 2009
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.1%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
−15%since 2009
from 4.6 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.8%(42,777)
Black1.9%(911)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(1,747)
Asian5.7%(2,773)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.9%(40,493)
Black2.7%(1,376)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(2,960)
Asian5.6%(2,819)
Other4.8%(2,406)
Diversity Score
42
+42%since 2009
from 30 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4%(2,010)
Puerto Rican0.6%(291)
Cuban0.5%(250)
Colombian0.2%(125)
Spaniard0.1%(49)
Argentine0.1%(28)
Peruvian0.1%(27)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Bolivian0%(11)
Asian origin
Asian Indian2%(1,020)
Filipino1.1%(561)
Chinese1.1%(543)
Korean0.3%(139)
Taiwanese0.2%(112)
Nepalese0.2%(79)
Vietnamese0.2%(77)
Japanese0.1%(71)
Pakistani0.1%(38)
Kazakh0.1%(29)
Thai0.1%(27)
Laotian0%(19)
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.3%(147)
Chamorro0%(15)
Samoan0%(13)
Ancestry
German22.6%(11,315)
Irish22.2%(11,090)
Polish12.5%(6,266)
Italian11.7%(5,843)
English7.8%(3,899)
American3.2%(1,615)
Swedish2.9%(1,429)
Czech2.6%(1,278)
French2.2%(1,116)
Lithuanian2.1%(1,070)
Greek1.7%(829)
Dutch1.6%(805)
+ 39 more ancestry groups with data
Croatian1.4%(695)
Scottish1.4%(687)
Norwegian1.3%(664)
Serbian0.9%(445)
Ukrainian0.8%(379)
Arab0.7%(350)
Welsh0.7%(326)
Slovak0.6%(277)
Russian0.5%(269)
Danish0.5%(245)
Romanian0.5%(238)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(238)
Hungarian0.5%(237)
Finnish0.4%(195)
British0.4%(186)
Armenian0.3%(171)
Macedonian0.3%(154)
Swiss0.3%(149)
Austrian0.3%(135)
Slovene0.2%(113)
Jordanian0.2%(94)
West Indian0.2%(84)
Belgian0.2%(79)
Lebanese0.1%(74)
Australian0.1%(74)
Egyptian0.1%(72)
Portuguese0.1%(72)
Jamaican0.1%(61)
Bulgarian0.1%(56)
Palestinian0.1%(51)
Canadian0.1%(32)
Turkish0%(25)
Ghanaian0%(20)
Moroccan0%(18)
Ethiopian0%(18)
Syrian0%(7)
Iranian0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
58.2%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 46.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 93.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
24.4%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.8 min
+28%since 2000
from 21.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
61.2%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
7.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
23.8%
+17.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 67.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
80.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 76.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
10.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
58.6%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
10.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.0%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 8.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2013
from 5.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.0%
+11.0 ptssince 2017
from 83.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2020
from 93.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 88.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
86.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 88.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.9%(5,994)
Married60%(11,649)
Widowed2.3%(452)
Divorced6.8%(1,322)
Women 15+
Never married25.5%(5,488)
Married54.2%(11,687)
Widowed8.8%(1,898)
Divorced11.5%(2,472)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
3.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2013
from 5.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
71.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 73.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
20.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
7.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 6.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
82.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 84.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
26.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 24.2% 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)26.5%(410)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21.4%(331)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.8%(507)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.1%(64)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(15)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,548 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

Downers Grove, decade by decade

Downers Grove population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199046,858$115,746$345,37040.0%18.8
200048,724$119,389$356,86246.4%28.0
201047,833$112,961$505,65850.7%34.0
202050,247$117,807$436,45558.6%43.4
202450,054$115,114$449,80058.2%42.0

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.

Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Downers Grove to nearby cities

DOWNERS GROVE VS
Westmont
Income$88,090−23%
Home value$379,100−16%
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DOWNERS GROVE VS
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Home value$605,800+35%
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DOWNERS GROVE VS
Lisle
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DOWNERS GROVE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Downers Grove, Illinois?

Downers Grove, Illinois has about 50,054 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Downers Grove, Illinois?

The typical household in Downers Grove, Illinois earns about $115,114 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Downers Grove, Illinois expensive?

In Downers Grove, Illinois, the median home is worth about $449,800, and the typical rent is about $1,656 a month.

How educated are people in Downers Grove, Illinois?

About 58.2% of adults age 25 and over in Downers Grove, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Downers Grove, Illinois?

About 5.5% of people in Downers Grove, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Downers Grove, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Downers Grove, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,196 residents, a change of about 7 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 →