Population 14,538 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Crete
Household size in Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.66 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The average household in Crete has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated 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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.9 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.7 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.6 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.6, Crete is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 46.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 are older.
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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Crete (9.5%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Crete
Renters in Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 9.8% of households in Crete rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 35.9% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 35 have a lower share of renters.
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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.2% of homes in Crete are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 1.7 points since 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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Crete run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in the Chicago area overall, where the median home dates to 1970. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $995 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,182 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,173 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,303 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$308 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Crete pays $1,303 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $308 a month since 2006–10, up 31%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 36.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the east.
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 Crete
Bachelor's degrees in Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.8% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.5% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over three in ten adults 25 and older in Crete (31.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Crete: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.6 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Crete
| Period | Crete | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Crete is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Chicago area overall (6.3%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
Crete 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crete | 2.50 | 47.6 | 9.5% | 9.8% | 5.2% | 1975 | $1,303 | 31.5% | 94.7% | 5.5% |
| Steger | 2.42 | 39.4 | 12.8% | 40.1% | 10.3% | 1967 | $1,126 | 20.0% | 89.5% | 7.7% |
| South Chicago Heights | 2.52 | 39.6 | 14.3% | 39.1% | 8.1% | 1965 | $1,339 | 11.8% | 75.9% | 7.9% |
| Sauk Village | 3.14 | 32.4 | 29.2% | 35.0% | 16.8% | 1972 | $1,525 | 18.1% | 91.1% | 11.7% |
| University Park | 2.85 | 34.1 | 30.7% | 33.3% | 8.9% | 1981 | $1,827 | 29.3% | 93.4% | 13.4% |
| Ford Heights | 2.52 | 49.2 | 13.0% | 41.8% | 21.8% | 1970 | $1,061 | 13.9% | 88.2% | 13.7% |
| Park Forest | 2.54 | 36.4 | 21.2% | 30.2% | 9.3% | 1959 | $1,428 | 24.9% | 92.8% | 7.2% |
| Chicago Heights | 2.90 | 35.5 | 22.8% | 34.6% | 13.5% | 1961 | $1,264 | 21.9% | 85.4% | 12.6% |
| Goodenow | 2.72 | 42.8 | 7.2% | 18.9% | 8.0% | 1984 | $1,183 | 20.3% | 95.7% | 1.2% |
| Dyer | 2.63 | 44.9 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 3.4% | 1995 | $1,255 | 38.5% | 95.6% | 3.0% |
| Beecher | 2.74 | 41.2 | 9.0% | 16.1% | 7.1% | 1990 | $1,171 | 20.4% | 95.4% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Avenal, CA · Orange, CT · Plaquemine, LA · Plano, IL · Pitahaya, PR · Pinson, AL · Penuelas, PR · Pembroke, NC · Pelham, NH · Pearl River, NY
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 Crete. 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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