Population 3,923 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Chicago Heights
Household size in South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.72 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in South Chicago Heights run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.68, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.1 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.6 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in South Chicago Heights are younger than 39.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1.
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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 25.9% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in South Chicago Heights (14.3%), above the national share of 11.6%.
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 South Chicago Heights
Renters in South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.2% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.3% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.1% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in South Chicago Heights than nationally: 39.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. About half of owners (50.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above 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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in South Chicago Heights as nationally: 8.1%, against 9.6%.
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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
South Chicago Heights 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.
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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $756 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $823 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,018 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,339 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$583 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in South Chicago Heights pays $1,339 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 48.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 South Chicago Heights
Bachelor's degrees in South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in South Chicago Heights have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 11.8%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.5% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.2% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.7% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 75.9% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly a quarter of adults in South Chicago Heights never finished high school, well above the national share: only 75.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% 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 South Chicago Heights
| Period | South Chicago Heights | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 22.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in South Chicago Heights: 7.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
South Chicago 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Chicago Heights | 2.52 | 39.6 | 14.3% | 39.1% | 8.1% | 1965 | $1,339 | 11.8% | 75.9% | 7.9% |
| Steger | 2.42 | 39.4 | 12.8% | 40.1% | 10.3% | 1967 | $1,126 | 20.0% | 89.5% | 7.7% |
| Chicago Heights | 2.90 | 35.5 | 22.8% | 34.6% | 13.5% | 1961 | $1,264 | 21.9% | 85.4% | 12.6% |
| Park Forest | 2.54 | 36.4 | 21.2% | 30.2% | 9.3% | 1959 | $1,428 | 24.9% | 92.8% | 7.2% |
| Ford Heights | 2.52 | 49.2 | 13.0% | 41.8% | 21.8% | 1970 | $1,061 | 13.9% | 88.2% | 13.7% |
| Olympia Fields | 2.22 | 47.6 | 8.7% | 15.9% | 9.8% | 1980 | $2,883 | 46.5% | 97.8% | 8.4% |
| Crete | 2.50 | 47.6 | 9.5% | 9.8% | 5.2% | 1975 | $1,303 | 31.5% | 94.7% | 5.5% |
| University Park | 2.85 | 34.1 | 30.7% | 33.3% | 8.9% | 1981 | $1,827 | 29.3% | 93.4% | 13.4% |
| Sauk Village | 3.14 | 32.4 | 29.2% | 35.0% | 16.8% | 1972 | $1,525 | 18.1% | 91.1% | 11.7% |
| Richton Park | 2.48 | 42.3 | 20.7% | 47.0% | 5.8% | 1978 | $1,871 | 28.3% | 94.2% | 12.6% |
| Flossmoor | 2.70 | 46.6 | 8.2% | 4.6% | 5.9% | 1971 | $1,977 | 61.2% | 98.3% | 10.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bishop, TX · Verbena, AL · Rockford, TN · Riverton, IL · Rainbow, CA · Powell Butte, OR · Orleans, IN · New London, NH · Mulberry, AR · Mount Angel, OR
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 South Chicago 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.
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