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CITY

Wheeling

Illinois · 38,391 residents (2025 est.) · 8.672 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#128Most foreign-born residentsof 6,82645.4%
The short version

Wheeling has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $85,205. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $266,200.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% 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
38,433
+11%since 2000
from 34,496 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,432 / sq mi
+11%since 2000
from 3,978 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.9
+16%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:38,391 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
29K32K35K37K40K1990201020202024Wheeling
202438K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,205
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,491 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,499
+66%since 2000
from $24,989 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.2%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.417
+7%since 2010
from 0.390 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$266,200
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $147,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,663
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $885 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 66.6% in 2000
37.3% rent
Vacancy rate
5.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.6%
−15.6 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+17%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
33
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wheeling on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic66.4%(22,892)
Black2.3%(799)
Hispanic / Latino20.7%(7,135)
Asian9.2%(3,183)
Other0%
Diversity Score61.7%(21,284)
2024
White, non-Hispanic49.1%(18,886)
Black3.8%(1,462)
Hispanic / Latino28.1%(10,805)
Asian15.3%(5,895)
Other3.6%(1,385)
Diversity Score81.7%(31,381)
Diversity Score
82
+32%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 32.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.7 min
+46%since 2000
from 17.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.2%
−11.1 ptssince 2009
from 80.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.3%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 72.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.8%
−24.6 ptssince 2009
from 61.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
52.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
45.4%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 39.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.4%
−46.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 8.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.6%
−70.6 ptssince 2013
from 81.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.2%
+10.4 ptssince 2017
from 83.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
38.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2016
from 41.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
25.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 29.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Wheeling to nearby cities

WHEELING VS
Prospect Heights
Income$85,008same
Home value$346,500+30%
Population15,552−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHEELING VS
Buffalo Grove
Income$129,395+52%
Home value$412,300+55%
Population42,812+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHEELING VS
Arlington Heights
Income$116,723+37%
Home value$414,500+56%
Population76,216+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHEELING VS
Deerfield
Income$181,660+113%
Home value$623,400+134%
Population19,642−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wheeling, Illinois?

Wheeling, Illinois has about 38,433 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wheeling, Illinois?

The typical household in Wheeling, Illinois earns about $85,205 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wheeling, Illinois expensive?

In Wheeling, Illinois, the median home is worth about $266,200, and the typical rent is about $1,663 a month.

How educated are people in Wheeling, Illinois?

About 40.8% of adults age 25 and over in Wheeling, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wheeling, Illinois?

About 10.0% of people in Wheeling, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wheeling, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Wheeling, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,522 residents, a change of about 28 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 →