Population 13,478 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Western Springs
Household size in Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.99 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.96 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.02 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.07 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Western Springs is a place of big households: 3.07 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.99, even as the national average fell. Only 17 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have larger households.
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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.5 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.2 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Western Springs skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.8, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.2% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Western Springs: 3.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only six 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 Western Springs
Renters in Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 6.0% of households in Western Springs rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over three in ten owners (31.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.0 points, even as the national share rose. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only ten have a lower share of renters.
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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.1% of homes in Western Springs are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Western Springs has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Illinois cities.
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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Western Springs is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 38 have older homes.
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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,618 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,772 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,711 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,055 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$437 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Western Springs costs $2,055 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $437 a month from 2006–10, a 27% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.3% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Western Springs
Bachelor's degrees in Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.7% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 75.5% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.6% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 83.0% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.2 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Western Springs: 83.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 11.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only three 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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.6% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.1% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.6% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.5% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Western Springs: 99.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only three of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people 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 Western Springs
| Period | Western Springs | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Western Springs has been low: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.8 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).
Western Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Springs | 3.07 | 41.8 | 3.5% | 6.0% | 4.1% | 1957 | $2,055 | 83.0% | 99.5% | 3.0% |
| La Grange | 2.80 | 41.8 | 8.1% | 18.5% | 5.7% | 1952 | $1,637 | 67.0% | 97.5% | 1.9% |
| Countryside | 2.39 | 47.0 | 9.1% | 27.6% | 6.4% | 1974 | $1,266 | 36.0% | 88.4% | 6.0% |
| La Grange Park | 2.54 | 43.7 | 5.2% | 27.4% | 6.9% | 1955 | $1,698 | 59.2% | 95.8% | 3.4% |
| Indian Head Park | 2.24 | 55.0 | 4.5% | 10.8% | 3.8% | 1978 | $1,587 | 58.8% | 96.1% | 7.1% |
| Hinsdale | 2.82 | 39.1 | 11.9% | 19.9% | 7.3% | 1980 | $2,190 | 68.6% | 97.4% | 6.1% |
| Brookfield | 2.49 | 42.1 | 6.7% | 18.2% | 4.5% | 1951 | $1,376 | 43.2% | 94.5% | 3.8% |
| Clarendon Hills | 2.74 | 41.4 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 6.8% | 1978 | $1,129 | 68.1% | 96.8% | 3.4% |
| Hodgkins | 2.78 | 39.1 | 13.7% | 20.9% | 11.5% | 1986 | $1,129 | 14.1% | 78.0% | 3.2% |
| Westchester | 2.34 | 52.2 | 8.6% | 12.6% | 4.6% | 1959 | $1,686 | 42.1% | 92.7% | 4.7% |
| Willowbrook | 2.31 | 47.5 | 6.3% | 30.9% | 6.2% | 1980 | $1,781 | 51.4% | 95.6% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Amherst, MA · Artondale, WA · Ashland City, TN · Atmore, AL · Palos Heights, IL · Oskaloosa, IA · Paris, KY · Parker, SC · Pass Christian, MS · Pearl River, 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 Western Springs. 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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