Population 13,918 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Palos Heights: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Palos Heights
Household size in Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Palos Heights run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Households are largest in the south and smallest 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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.5 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.7 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.5 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.5 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Palos Heights skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.5, 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 dropped from 49.5, even as the national median rose. Only 13 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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.8% of households in Palos Heights, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people 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 Palos Heights
Renters in Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Palos Heights is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 8.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over four in ten owners (42.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Palos Heights than nationally: 5.8%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Chicago area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.8 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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Palos Heights are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Chicago area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1970. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north 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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,227 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,475 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,267 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,366 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,139 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Palos Heights costs $2,366 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,139 a month since 2006–10, up 93%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 38.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 Palos Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.1% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.0% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Palos Heights than nationally: 42.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.7% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Palos Heights: 96.4% 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 edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Palos Heights has a higher 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 Palos Heights
| Period | Palos Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Palos Heights runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Palos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palos Heights | 2.44 | 48.5 | 2.8% | 8.9% | 5.8% | 1976 | $2,366 | 42.0% | 96.4% | 4.0% |
| Worth | 2.41 | 39.1 | 13.2% | 35.9% | 3.4% | 1968 | $1,195 | 19.0% | 86.6% | 8.2% |
| Crestwood | 1.98 | 51.8 | 6.6% | 23.0% | 5.9% | 1979 | $1,357 | 27.5% | 92.4% | 7.3% |
| Chicago Ridge | 2.70 | 37.6 | 8.6% | 48.7% | 11.4% | 1973 | $1,263 | 28.3% | 88.5% | 7.5% |
| Palos Park | 2.55 | 53.3 | 2.2% | 9.9% | 12.4% | 1983 | $2,516 | 51.3% | 94.4% | 3.0% |
| Palos Hills | 2.43 | 42.6 | 11.8% | 24.6% | 5.9% | 1979 | $1,348 | 27.7% | 86.4% | 3.8% |
| Alsip | 2.49 | 40.2 | 16.6% | 32.2% | 3.9% | 1974 | $1,250 | 18.7% | 89.4% | 8.6% |
| Oak Lawn | 2.69 | 40.6 | 8.7% | 17.4% | 6.8% | 1967 | $1,432 | 31.2% | 90.0% | 5.2% |
| Oak Forest | 2.65 | 41.8 | 9.4% | 18.4% | 4.9% | 1977 | $1,387 | 31.9% | 94.3% | 5.2% |
| Midlothian | 2.49 | 40.3 | 9.7% | 23.9% | 5.6% | 1966 | $1,435 | 19.2% | 88.2% | 6.0% |
| Robbins | 2.56 | 36.8 | 16.3% | 42.5% | 18.4% | 1963 | $1,521 | 14.8% | 81.9% | 15.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mashpee, MA · Rice Lake, WI · Rehoboth Beach, DE · Red Bank, TN · Rayne, LA · Rantoul, IL · Mission Hills, CA · Milton, DE · Millbury, MA · Middleton, ID
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 Palos 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.