Chicago, IL Local Data & Statistics

State: IL

Total population: 2,711,226 Household income: $77,902 Rent: $1,440

Overview

Total population

2,711,226

Rent

$1,440

Year built

1953

Household income

$77,902

Per capita income

$50,086

Poverty rate

16.8%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Illinois

Total population

2,711,226

Adults over 25

1,924,658

Total households

1,160,205

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$77,902

Per capita income

$50,086

Poverty rate

16.8%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Rent over 30% of income

45.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,440

Year built

1953

Households that rent

54%

Households that own

46%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

36%

Black

27.9%

Asian

7.3%

Two or more races

13.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

29.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

70.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

79%

Commute time to work

33 mins

Work from home

21%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

26.8%

High school graduate or GED

21.1%

Some college or associate degree

7.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

44.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Chicago, IL with: Illinois United States

Chicago, IL

Total population2,711,226

Rent$1,440

Year built1953

Household income$77,902

Per capita income$50,086

Poverty rate16.8%

Unemployment rate4.6%

Illinois State

Total population12,694,798

Rent$1,274

Year built1971

Household income$83,390

Per capita income$46,406

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityChicago, IL	StateIllinois	CountryUnited States
Total population	2,711,226	12,694,798	334,922,499
Rent	$1,440	$1,274	$1,413
Year built	1953	1971	1980
Household income	$77,902	$83,390	$80,734
Per capita income	$50,086	$46,406	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.8%	11.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Chicago, IL, Illinois and United States →

Summary for Chicago, IL

Chicago is located in Illinois.

Rent & Income

In Chicago, the typical monthly rent is $1,440 and the typical household income is $77,902. Rent here is higher than Illinois and similar to the U.S., and household income is lower than Illinois and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 16.8%, which is higher than in both Illinois and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 54% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 45.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 44.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is lower than Illinois and higher than the national rate.

Chicago, IL — Rent vs Household Income

Chicago, IL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Chicago, IL compares in Illinois (29 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,440	14 / 29	from lower rent	$845 – $1,885
Household income	$77,902	20 / 29	from higher income	$51,592 – $155,105
Poverty rate	16.8%	23 / 29	from lower poverty	4.4% – 25.9%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	20 / 29	from lower unemployment	3.3% – 6.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Illinois with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Chicago, IL

Rent

Chicago ranks 14th out of 29 large places in Illinois for rent. Statewide rents range from $845 in Decatur, IL to $1,885 in Naperville, IL.

Household income

Looking at household income, Chicago places 20th out of 29 significant areas. Incomes across Illinois range between $51,592 in Decatur, IL and $155,105 in Naperville, IL.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Chicago is ranked 23rd among 29 major areas. Across Illinois, poverty runs from 4.4% in Naperville, IL to 25.9% in Champaign, IL.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Chicago is ranked 20th out of 29 major areas. Across Illinois, rates go from 3.3% in Champaign, IL up to 6.2% in Waukegan, IL.

💰 Rent in Chicago, IL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,440 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Chicago, IL

Annual Household Income: $77,902

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Chicago, IL

Estimated Rate: 16.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Chicago, IL

In Chicago, IL, households that rent: 626,193 (54%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	626,193	54%
Owner-Occupied	534,012	46%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Chicago, IL

In Chicago, IL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 285,719 (45.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	285,719	45.6%
Other renter households	340,474	54.4%
Total renter households	626,193	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Chicago, IL

Less than High School: 515,353 people (26.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 405,248 people (21.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 150,573 people (7.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 853,484 people (44.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,924,658

📊 Unemployment Rate in Chicago, IL

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Houston, TX2,300,419

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.