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CITY

Harvard

Illinois · 9,504 residents (2025 est.) · 8.377 sq mi
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#248Youngest by median ageof 6,82628.0
The short version

Harvard has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,617. Population has grown 20% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $175,400. At a median age of 28.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 15%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,598
+20%since 2000
from 7,996 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,146 / sq mi
+20%since 2000
from 955 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
28.0
−3%since 2000
from 28.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,504 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K8K9K10K1990201020202024Harvard
202410K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,617
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,363 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,172
+52%since 2000
from $17,253 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.2%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.380
+6%since 2010
from 0.360 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade32.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing5.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,400
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,183
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $679 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 55.1% in 2000
40.3% rent
Vacancy rate
4.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.5%
−21.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.0%
−13.5 ptssince 2009
from 65.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+2%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harvard on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic59.3%(4,741)
Black0.6%(46)
Hispanic / Latino37.8%(3,023)
Asian1.4%(109)
Other0%
Diversity Score62%(4,954)
2024
White, non-Hispanic39%(3,742)
Black0.9%(87)
Hispanic / Latino56.4%(5,418)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.7%(351)
Diversity Score66%(6,334)
Diversity Score
66
+7%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.2%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.2 min
+47%since 2000
from 17.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 71.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.5%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 71.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.0%
−22.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
18.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−45.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 8.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−70.1 ptssince 2013
from 79.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.0%
+7.6 ptssince 2017
from 81.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
54.6%
−7.6 ptssince 2016
from 62.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
44.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2016
from 36.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Harvard, Illinois?

Harvard, Illinois has about 9,598 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Harvard, Illinois?

The typical household in Harvard, Illinois earns about $67,617 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harvard, Illinois expensive?

In Harvard, Illinois, the median home is worth about $175,400, and the typical rent is about $1,183 a month.

How educated are people in Harvard, Illinois?

About 18.7% of adults age 25 and over in Harvard, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harvard, Illinois?

About 11.8% of people in Harvard, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harvard, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Harvard, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,623 residents, a change of about 61 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 →