Population 8,970 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Harwood Heights
Household size in Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Harwood Heights run a little small, averaging 2.54 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.47, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the center.
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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.4 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Harwood Heights is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the Chicago area as a whole, where the median age is 39.7. The median age has dropped from 42.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.5% of households in Harwood Heights, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, mirroring the country. Harwood Heights has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Illinois cities.
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 Harwood Heights
Renters in Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.9% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.4% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Harwood Heights than nationally: 40.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 53.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the south. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 33 have a higher 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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Harwood Heights: 6.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Chicago area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Harwood Heights is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south 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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $864 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,036 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,029 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,193 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$329 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Harwood Heights costs $1,193 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $329 a month since 2006–10, up 38%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Harwood Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.6% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.3% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Harwood Heights as nationally: 34.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Chicago area (40.9%). The share with a degree is up 7.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.7% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.9% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.5% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.7% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Harwood Heights never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.0 points, mirroring the country. Harwood Heights has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Illinois cities.
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 Harwood Heights
| Period | Harwood Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Harwood Heights runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 4.8 points from 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).
Harwood Heights 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harwood Heights | 2.54 | 41.5 | 5.5% | 40.2% | 6.2% | 1967 | $1,193 | 34.3% | 87.7% | 3.9% |
| Norridge | 2.59 | 45.2 | 13.3% | 19.0% | 5.2% | 1965 | $1,576 | 31.9% | 87.5% | 7.4% |
| Elmwood Park | 2.66 | 41.1 | 12.9% | 34.4% | 8.2% | 1955 | $1,436 | 31.7% | 87.2% | 6.4% |
| River Grove | 2.63 | 39.3 | 10.5% | 43.1% | 8.1% | 1962 | $1,205 | 24.8% | 91.1% | 5.8% |
| Schiller Park | 2.67 | 39.1 | 11.5% | 40.8% | 5.4% | 1963 | $1,319 | 25.8% | 86.7% | 3.3% |
| Park Ridge | 2.65 | 44.8 | 6.9% | 15.1% | 6.3% | 1959 | $1,914 | 66.7% | 96.7% | 4.0% |
| Franklin Park | 3.06 | 38.2 | 15.2% | 25.5% | 4.3% | 1956 | $1,162 | 20.0% | 77.9% | 5.8% |
| Rosemont | 2.09 | 48.7 | 6.9% | 77.7% | 5.3% | 1970 | $775 | 26.9% | 86.8% | 4.3% |
| Lincolnwood | 2.86 | 46.7 | 4.4% | 16.2% | 8.0% | 1963 | $3,363 | 56.9% | 93.7% | 7.9% |
| Niles | 2.61 | 48.0 | 6.9% | 26.0% | 6.3% | 1965 | $1,405 | 40.0% | 89.8% | 7.3% |
| River Forest | 2.62 | 40.6 | 6.0% | 12.3% | 6.6% | 1949 | $1,807 | 72.7% | 97.3% | 7.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pompton Plains, NJ · Needville, TX · Nellis Afb, NV · New Hudson, MI · Palos Park, IL · Peru, IL · Pine Bush, NY · Pine Hill, NJ · Pinehurst, TX · Pitman, NJ
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 Harwood Heights. 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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