Population 5,903 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Northfield
Household size in Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The average household in Northfield has 2.47 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.68, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.3 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.0 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.8 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.5, Northfield 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 dropped from 47.3 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the east.
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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.6% of households in Northfield, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only seven 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 Northfield
Renters in Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Northfield is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.4 points, a much bigger shift than 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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Northfield: 6.4% 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. Vacancy is down 4.9 points from 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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Northfield is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The Chicago area as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1963 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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,820 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,796 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,804 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,117 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$297 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Northfield costs $2,117 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $297 a month from 2006–10, a 16% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Northfield
Bachelor's degrees in Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.0% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 76.6% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.1% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 79.5% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.5 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Northfield is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (79.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.5 points, as it has nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only six 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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.5% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.9% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.6% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.6% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Northfield: 99.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only two 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 Northfield
| Period | Northfield | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.0% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.5% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Northfield has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 30 have lower unemployment. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Northfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Glencoe | 3.02 | 42.9 | 3.0% | 8.0% | 14.3% | 1956 | $2,175 | 89.2% | 99.9% | 3.5% |
| Glenview | 2.64 | 45.9 | 7.5% | 21.4% | 5.3% | 1969 | $1,878 | 63.7% | 96.0% | 4.5% |
| Golf | 2.49 | 40.2 | 5.8% | 34.3% | 1.1% | 1996 | $2,468 | 67.4% | 97.8% | 2.3% |
| Wilmette | 2.72 | 45.1 | 5.1% | 12.1% | 4.9% | 1955 | $2,349 | 83.3% | 98.8% | 4.2% |
| Kenilworth | 3.29 | 41.7 | 3.3% | 3.9% | 5.7% | 1938 | $3,446 | 91.1% | 99.6% | 3.9% |
| Glenview Nas | 2.57 | 46.4 | 6.5% | 31.1% | 6.7% | 1989 | $2,263 | 69.2% | 97.9% | 2.4% |
| Northbrook | 2.54 | 50.3 | 4.4% | 17.4% | 9.0% | 1976 | $2,327 | 71.2% | 96.7% | 3.2% |
| Morton Grove | 2.65 | 45.7 | 7.4% | 15.4% | 5.4% | 1967 | $2,052 | 54.8% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Skokie | 2.76 | 44.4 | 8.6% | 26.7% | 5.3% | 1962 | $1,795 | 52.8% | 90.9% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: West Milton, OH · Algona, IA · Westbrook, CT · West View, PA · West Jefferson, NC · York Haven, PA · West Nyack, NY · Zephyrhills West, FL · Air Force Academy, CO · Old Bethpage, 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 Northfield. 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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