Population 40,308 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carol Stream
Household size in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.87 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.79 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Carol Stream holds 2.79 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.87, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.1 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Carol Stream skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.6, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Carol Stream: 7.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carol Stream
Renters in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.6% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.9% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.7% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Carol Stream own their homes; 28.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the west. The renter share has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.3% of homes in Carol Stream are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Carol Stream are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Chicago area overall, where the median home dates to 1970.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,135 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,234 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,497 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,723 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$588 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Carol Stream costs $1,723 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $588 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carol Stream
Bachelor's degrees in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.3% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.7% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.3% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in Carol Stream (42.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The picture is much the same across the Chicago area. The share with a degree has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.1% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.6% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Carol Stream have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged down 1.0 points, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carol Stream
| Period | Carol Stream | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Carol Stream than nationally: unemployment was 3.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carol Stream compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carol Stream | 2.79 | 42.0 | 7.8% | 28.7% | 5.3% | 1983 | $1,723 | 42.3% | 89.1% | 3.6% |
| Glendale Heights | 3.08 | 36.5 | 11.3% | 35.4% | 5.3% | 1979 | $1,678 | 30.4% | 84.1% | 5.6% |
| Winfield | 2.72 | 45.7 | 4.6% | 11.5% | 4.1% | 1981 | $1,742 | 53.2% | 95.1% | 4.3% |
| Bloomingdale | 2.50 | 45.0 | 7.8% | 23.5% | 4.4% | 1983 | $1,546 | 44.0% | 92.6% | 4.6% |
| West Chicago | 3.31 | 39.8 | 12.1% | 22.7% | 4.0% | 1977 | $1,514 | 33.4% | 81.8% | 9.7% |
| Wheaton | 2.64 | 39.2 | 4.3% | 25.5% | 4.6% | 1972 | $1,865 | 66.4% | 96.4% | 3.8% |
| Hanover Park | 3.22 | 35.6 | 14.3% | 21.8% | 4.7% | 1979 | $1,770 | 31.1% | 84.1% | 4.4% |
| Roselle | 2.69 | 43.9 | 5.4% | 18.8% | 4.9% | 1977 | $1,589 | 41.5% | 93.5% | 6.3% |
| Glen Ellyn | 2.76 | 40.8 | 5.7% | 21.5% | 4.6% | 1969 | $1,702 | 64.1% | 95.2% | 5.3% |
| Bartlett | 2.91 | 41.4 | 8.0% | 10.7% | 3.6% | 1987 | $1,886 | 46.8% | 94.5% | 3.2% |
| Wayne Center | 3.19 | 37.9 | 5.3% | 27.0% | 3.4% | 1992 | $2,002 | 43.6% | 93.2% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bartlesville, OK · Bartlett, IL · Bettendorf, IA · Beverly Hills, CA · Westfield, MA · Brownsburg, IN · West Hollywood, CA · Burke, VA · Canonsburg, PA · Monroe, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carol Stream. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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