Population 29,067 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Highland Park
Household size in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Highland Park average 2.64 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.61, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.0 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.0 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.4 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.4, Highland Park is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 45.0, as it has nationally. Only 34 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people 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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Highland Park: 4.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Highland Park
Renters in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.9% of households in Highland Park rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 33.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Highland Park than nationally: 6.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Chicago area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.3 points, 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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Highland Park is a place of older homes: half were built before 1963, 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 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east 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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,392 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,442 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,803 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,022 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$630 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Highland Park costs $2,022 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $630 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 37.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only 34 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have higher rents.
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 Highland Park
Bachelor's degrees in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.3% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 70.3% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.8% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.9% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.6 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Highland Park: 77.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 11.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.8% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.5% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.4% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.3% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Highland Park: 97.3% 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 1.5 points, as it has nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 38 have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Highland Park has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.6 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).
Highland Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park | 2.64 | 46.4 | 4.1% | 15.9% | 6.0% | 1963 | $2,022 | 77.9% | 97.3% | 3.3% |
| Highwood | 2.56 | 41.5 | 5.7% | 43.2% | 2.9% | 1958 | $1,984 | 42.6% | 82.7% | 4.6% |
| Deerfield | 2.71 | 44.5 | 4.6% | 14.5% | 3.0% | 1972 | $2,308 | 81.1% | 98.6% | 2.9% |
| Bannockburn | 2.62 | 31.8 | 2.3% | 5.8% | 3.7% | 1970 | $3,456 | 81.2% | 99.3% | 2.2% |
| Glencoe | 3.02 | 42.9 | 3.0% | 8.0% | 14.3% | 1956 | $2,175 | 89.2% | 99.9% | 3.5% |
| Northbrook | 2.54 | 50.3 | 4.4% | 17.4% | 9.0% | 1976 | $2,327 | 71.2% | 96.7% | 3.2% |
| Lake Forest | 2.72 | 46.6 | 5.0% | 11.3% | 8.3% | 1976 | $1,997 | 79.9% | 97.7% | 1.9% |
| Riverwoods | 2.77 | 43.0 | 8.2% | 26.4% | 7.3% | 1982 | $2,267 | 79.3% | 98.6% | 1.9% |
| Northfield | 2.47 | 45.5 | 3.6% | 12.1% | 6.4% | 1971 | $2,117 | 79.5% | 99.6% | 2.1% |
| Winnetka | 3.01 | 43.5 | 6.2% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 1950 | $1,886 | 86.6% | 99.3% | 4.1% |
| Lincolnshire | 2.65 | 47.6 | 5.0% | 22.3% | 6.6% | 1987 | $2,761 | 76.4% | 97.6% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Arlington, TN · Arroyo Grande, CA · Auburndale, FL · Paris, TX · Mount Airy, MD · Muscatine, IA · Natchez, MS · Norco, CA · North Attleboro, MA · North Platte, NE
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 Highland Park. 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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