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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Cook County

Illinois · 5,275,541 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 $67,886. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $255,500.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,275,541
−2%since 2000
from 5,376,741 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5,583 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 5,690 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.4
+11%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
5.1M5.2M5.2M5.3M5.4M1990201020202024Cook County
20245.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,886
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,922 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,239
+69%since 2000
from $23,227 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade9.3%
US avg: 10%
Information9.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services8.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration6.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$255,500
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $154,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,160
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $648 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
54.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 57.9% in 2000
45.7% rent
Afford Score
3.8
+12%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic40.5%(2,135,243)
Black22.5%(1,185,601)
Hispanic / Latino26.2%(1,382,778)
Asian7.7%(408,691)
Other2.4%(128,250)
Diversity Score88.3%(4,658,980)
Segregation Score54.4%(2,869,413)
Diversity Score
88
+8%since 2000
from 82 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
54
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.0%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 28.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.7%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
16.4%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.2 min
+39%since 2000
from 23.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
59.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
17.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 66.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
42.4%
−22.4 ptssince 2009
from 64.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
20.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.7%
−74.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+63%
Home value$345,700+35%
Population719,339−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOK COUNTY VS
DuPage County
Income$112,096+65%
Home value$391,400+53%
Population934,298−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOK COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income$71,493+5%
Home value$230,600−10%
Population504,612−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COOK COUNTY VS
Will County
Income$109,984+62%
Home value$319,600+25%
Population712,253−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cook County, Illinois?

Cook County, Illinois has about 5,275,541 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cook County, Illinois earns about $67,886 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 $255,500, and the typical rent is about $1,160 a month.

How educated are people in Cook County, Illinois?

About 40.0% 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 13.7% 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 170,474 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

1332 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 818Census Tract 3301.02Census Tract 8390Census Tract 814.03Census Tract 8331Census Tract 3201.01Census Tract 208.02Census Tract 8435Census Tract 2306Census Tract 8060.04Census Tract 3301.03Census Tract 8073Census Tract 8391Census Tract 8134Census Tract 8237.03Census Tract 810Census Tract 8043.05Census Tract 8142Census Tract 207.02Census Tract 8051.11
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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