Population 12,694,798 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Illinois
Household size in Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Illinois average 2.58 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Household size has dropped from 2.69 in 2006–10, 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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 40.2, the median age in Illinois 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 37.6 in 2006–10, 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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Illinois as they are nationally: 11.3%, against 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 Illinois
Renters in Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Illinois is about as common as it is nationally: 32.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. About four in ten owners (39.4%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Illinois is close to the national rate: 8.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.9 points, mirroring the country. Illinois has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of states.
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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 |
Illinois 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.
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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Illinois costs $1,428 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $475 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in southern Illinois; the highest are in northeastern Illinois.
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 Illinois
Bachelor's degrees in Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Illinois as nationally: 37.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in northeastern Illinois and least in western Illinois.
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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Illinois is close to the national rate: 90.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, 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 Illinois
| Period | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in Illinois is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.7 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Illinois compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Indiana | 2.54 | 39.3 | 11.7% | 29.4% | 9.3% | 1977 | $1,146 | 30.0% | 89.9% | 4.3% |
| Wisconsin | 2.40 | 41.4 | 9.8% | 32.2% | 9.2% | 1974 | $1,139 | 33.6% | 93.3% | 3.3% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Iowa | 2.43 | 39.8 | 10.0% | 28.3% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,020 | 32.3% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Michigan | 2.51 | 41.3 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 10.2% | 1972 | $1,228 | 32.7% | 91.8% | 5.9% |
| Ohio | 2.46 | 40.8 | 11.7% | 32.8% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,142 | 31.9% | 91.7% | 4.9% |
| Tennessee | 2.53 | 39.9 | 11.8% | 33.1% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,286 | 31.4% | 89.9% | 4.8% |
| Minnesota | 2.52 | 40.0 | 9.6% | 27.8% | 8.3% | 1978 | $1,404 | 39.6% | 93.7% | 4.1% |
| West Virginia | 2.43 | 43.2 | 10.4% | 25.1% | 14.9% | 1976 | $905 | 25.0% | 89.4% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Arizona · Alabama · New Hampshire · Montana · Mississippi · Minnesota · Michigan · Massachusetts · Maine · Idaho
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 Illinois. 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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