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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Cook County

Illinois · 5,194,675 residents · 944.925 sq mi
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The short version

Cook County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $53,942. Population has declined 3% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $265,800.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 35.3
US median: 37.2
More educated
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,194,675
−3%since 2000
from 5,376,741 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5,497 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 5,690 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
35.3
+5%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
5.1M5.2M5.2M5.3M5.4M1990201020202024Cook County
20245.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,942
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,922 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,335
+26%since 2000
from $23,227 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
35.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
15.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.488
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 10.9%
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services8.9%
US avg: 7%
Public administration6.7%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical5.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$265,800
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $154,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$900
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $648 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
43.1%
−14.8 ptssince 2000
from 57.9% in 2000
41.8% rent
Vacancy rate
10.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
39.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 39.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.9
+47%since 2000
from 3.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cook County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic47.6%(2,558,709)
Black25.9%(1,390,448)
Hispanic / Latino19.9%(1,071,740)
Asian4.8%(257,843)
Other0%
Diversity Score81.5%(4,382,431)
2010
White, non-Hispanic43.9%(2,278,358)
Black24.4%(1,265,778)
Hispanic / Latino24%(1,244,762)
Asian6.1%(318,869)
Other1.4%(72,949)
Diversity Score85.6%(4,449,150)
Diversity Score
86
+5%since 2000
from 82 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 28.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
83.2%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.8 min
+33%since 2000
from 23.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
63.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.9% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
17.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
17.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
36.8%
−28.1 ptssince 2009
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
21.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
6.2%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cook County

Harris County
Pop 5,045,026
Maricopa County
Pop 4,689,558
Kings County
Pop 2,653,963
Los Angeles County
Pop 9,694,934
Places similar to Cook County
Head to head

Compare Cook County to nearby counties

COOK COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income$110,416+105%
Home value$345,700+30%
Population719,339−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOK COUNTY VS
DuPage County
Income$112,096+108%
Home value$391,400+47%
Population934,298−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOK COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income$71,493+33%
Home value$230,600−13%
Population504,612−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOK COUNTY VS
Will County
Income$109,984+104%
Home value$319,600+20%
Population712,253−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cook County, Illinois?

Cook County, Illinois has about 5,194,675 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cook County, Illinois?

The typical household in Cook County, Illinois earns about $53,942 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cook County, Illinois expensive?

In Cook County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $265,800, and the typical rent is about $900 a month.

How educated are people in Cook County, Illinois?

About 33.2% of adults age 25 and over in Cook County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cook County, Illinois?

About 15.3% of people in Cook County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cook County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Cook County, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 89,608 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1332 census tracts (top 20 by population)
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →