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CITY

Melrose Park

Illinois · 23,936 residents (2025 est.) · 4.353 sq mi
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The short version

Melrose Park has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,189. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 15% 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 $275,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,549
+6%since 2000
from 23,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5,640 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 5,323 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.3
+22%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:23,936 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K23K25K26K1990201020202024Melrose Park
202425K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,189
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,689 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,979
+85%since 2000
from $16,206 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.9%
+21.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.404
+6%since 2010
from 0.380 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing4.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$275,800
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $155,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,176
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $610 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 54.7% in 2000
43.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.4%
−23.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.4%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+9%since 2000
from 3.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
34
RELATED:See current rent listings in Melrose Park on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic40.5%(9,380)
Black2.7%(634)
Hispanic / Latino53.9%(12,485)
Asian2%(455)
Other0%
Diversity Score67%(15,525)
2024
White, non-Hispanic15.8%(3,872)
Black5.1%(1,253)
Hispanic / Latino77%(18,914)
Asian1.1%(280)
Other0.9%(230)
Diversity Score47.3%(11,621)
Diversity Score
47
−29%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
69.7%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.1 min
+58%since 2000
from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 68.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
18.3%
−30.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
47.0%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
34.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 38.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.2%
−47.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2012
from 7.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
16.3%
−58.7 ptssince 2013
from 75.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.0%
+23.9 ptssince 2017
from 68.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
29.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 28.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
67.4%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 67.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Melrose Park to nearby cities

MELROSE PARK VS
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Income$79,513+20%
Home value$230,000−17%
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MELROSE PARK VS
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Home value$229,800−17%
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MELROSE PARK VS
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Income$69,858+6%
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MELROSE PARK VS
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Income$83,892+27%
Home value$259,800−6%
Population12,462−48%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Melrose Park, Illinois?

Melrose Park, Illinois has about 24,549 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Melrose Park, Illinois?

The typical household in Melrose Park, Illinois earns about $66,189 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Melrose Park, Illinois expensive?

In Melrose Park, Illinois, the median home is worth about $275,800, and the typical rent is about $1,176 a month.

How educated are people in Melrose Park, Illinois?

About 15.0% of adults age 25 and over in Melrose Park, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Melrose Park, Illinois?

About 12.3% of people in Melrose Park, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Melrose Park, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Melrose Park, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,690 residents, a change of about 18 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 →