Population 31,608 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Niles
Household size in Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.61 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
At 2.61 people per household, Niles sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.56 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.4 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.8 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.2 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.0 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Niles skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 47.4, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.9% of households in Niles, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as 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 Niles
Renters in Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Niles rent their homes (26.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About half of owners (48.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northwest; owners are most common in the center. The renter share has edged up 1.4 points since 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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Niles: 6.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Chicago area. Vacancy has fallen 2.7 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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Niles is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center 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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $988 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,142 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,264 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,405 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$417 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Niles pays $1,405 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $417 a month from 2006–10, a 42% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are 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 Niles
Bachelor's degrees in Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.7% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.0% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Niles (40.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.4 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center 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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.0% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.5% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.7% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.8% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Niles is close to the national rate: 89.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Niles
| Period | Niles | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Niles than nationally: unemployment was 7.3%, against 5.4%. Niles has higher unemployment than at least four in five Illinois cities. 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).
Niles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niles | 2.61 | 48.0 | 6.9% | 26.0% | 6.3% | 1965 | $1,405 | 40.0% | 89.8% | 7.3% |
| Morton Grove | 2.65 | 45.7 | 7.4% | 15.4% | 5.4% | 1967 | $2,052 | 54.8% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Park Ridge | 2.65 | 44.8 | 6.9% | 15.1% | 6.3% | 1959 | $1,914 | 66.7% | 96.7% | 4.0% |
| Golf | 2.49 | 40.2 | 5.8% | 34.3% | 1.1% | 1996 | $2,468 | 67.4% | 97.8% | 2.3% |
| Glenview | 2.64 | 45.9 | 7.5% | 21.4% | 5.3% | 1969 | $1,878 | 63.7% | 96.0% | 4.5% |
| Des Plaines | 2.72 | 42.7 | 9.1% | 28.1% | 7.2% | 1970 | $1,567 | 37.7% | 87.3% | 4.9% |
| Rosemont | 2.09 | 48.7 | 6.9% | 77.7% | 5.3% | 1970 | $775 | 26.9% | 86.8% | 4.3% |
| Skokie | 2.76 | 44.4 | 8.6% | 26.7% | 5.3% | 1962 | $1,795 | 52.8% | 90.9% | 4.6% |
| Glenview Nas | 2.57 | 46.4 | 6.5% | 31.1% | 6.7% | 1989 | $2,263 | 69.2% | 97.9% | 2.4% |
| Harwood Heights | 2.54 | 41.5 | 5.5% | 40.2% | 6.2% | 1967 | $1,193 | 34.3% | 87.7% | 3.9% |
| Lincolnwood | 2.86 | 46.7 | 4.4% | 16.2% | 8.0% | 1963 | $3,363 | 56.9% | 93.7% | 7.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Willingboro, NJ · Ashland, KY · Warsaw, IN · Barstow, CA · Union City, GA · Corozal, PR · Reidsville, NC · Lewis Center, OH · Milford, OH · Paradise Hills, NM
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 Niles. 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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