The Chicago metro area: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Jasper, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Lake, McHenry, Newton, Porter and Will counties · Population 9,371,595 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Chicago area
Household size in the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, the Chicago area sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Illinois overall, where it has 2.58 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.79, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 39.7, the median age in the Chicago area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 36.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the south.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in the Chicago area as they are nationally: 11.5%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 the Chicago area
Renters in the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in the Chicago area rent their homes (34.5%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among owners, 36.6% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the south. The renter share is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Chicago area: 7.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Illinois comes in at about the same level. Vacancy has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The Chicago area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in the Chicago area runs $1,602 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in Illinois overall ($1,428). Rent has climbed $542 a month since 2006–10, up 51%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 the Chicago area
Bachelor's degrees in the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in the Chicago area than nationally: 40.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the southeast.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Chicago area is close to the national rate: 89.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 the Chicago area
| Period | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in the Chicago area than nationally: unemployment was 6.3%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Largest cities in the Chicago area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago area (all) | 2.66 | 39.7 | 11.5% | 34.5% | 7.2% | 1970 | $1,602 | 40.9% | 89.5% | 6.3% |
| Aurora | 3.00 | 35.9 | 15.4% | 33.4% | 5.2% | 1978 | $1,729 | 37.4% | 82.9% | 5.7% |
| Naperville | 2.78 | 41.2 | 7.1% | 24.4% | 5.0% | 1988 | $2,169 | 71.9% | 97.2% | 4.4% |
| Joliet | 2.88 | 37.0 | 15.0% | 31.2% | 7.0% | 1971 | $1,443 | 21.7% | 82.0% | 6.2% |
| Elgin | 2.91 | 38.5 | 13.7% | 27.0% | 4.0% | 1975 | $1,571 | 28.4% | 82.6% | 5.7% |
| Plainfield | 3.24 | 38.2 | 10.0% | 10.2% | 2.2% | 2000 | $2,302 | 45.0% | 94.9% | 4.6% |
| Waukegan | 2.90 | 36.4 | 16.5% | 50.6% | 6.0% | 1963 | $1,278 | 19.1% | 73.3% | 6.9% |
| Des Plaines | 2.72 | 42.7 | 9.1% | 28.1% | 7.2% | 1970 | $1,567 | 37.7% | 87.3% | 4.9% |
| Cicero | 3.50 | 34.9 | 20.9% | 45.4% | 7.7% | 1942 | $1,225 | 11.5% | 69.1% | 4.7% |
| Evanston | 2.23 | 40.1 | 8.5% | 41.9% | 8.1% | 1957 | $1,936 | 70.2% | 96.8% | 6.0% |
| Arlington Heights | 2.51 | 43.4 | 7.1% | 26.1% | 5.7% | 1973 | $1,853 | 59.3% | 95.2% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Miami area · Philadelphia area · Washington area · Houston area · Dallas area · Los Angeles area · New York area
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 the Chicago area. 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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