Chicago, IL Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,589,812 | 12,497,595 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 11042.4 | 215.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.05% | -0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.1 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,109,454 | 5,000,691 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Chicago declined by 4.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 2,648,837 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Chicago has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,107 | $82,179 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.90% | 4.78% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.0% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Chicago is about 9% lower than in Illinois.
Housing
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $281,369 | $162,405 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,371 | $1,226 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 45.9% | 66.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Chicago is about 17.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,371 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Chicago spend about 64 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 265 hours, about 11.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 31.8 | 23.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 63.5 | 47.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 265 | 198 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $8,205 | $6,148 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 14.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 20,211 | 7,977 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,222 | 1,547 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Chicago is 32 minutes, longer than the 24 minutes in Illinois.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Chicago has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 34.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.34 | 2.48 | 2.54 |
Health
Chicago has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Chicago | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.6 | 77.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 17.5% | 15.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.7% | 19.2% | 19.0% |
Chicago, IL Compared With Nearby Cities
How Chicago, IL compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 2,589,812 | $75,107 #2/3 | $281,369 #3/3 | 31.8 min #3/3 |
| Cicero, IL | 79,082 | $67,837 | $358,139 | 30.0 min |
| Berwyn, IL | 53,269 | $75,252 | $408,696 | 30.5 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chicago, Illinois.
What is the population of Chicago, Illinois?
The population of Chicago, Illinois is 2,589,812, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Chicago, Illinois?
The population density of Chicago, Illinois is 11042.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Chicago, Illinois?
The median household income in Chicago, Illinois is $75,107, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Chicago, Illinois?
The median home price in Chicago, Illinois is $281,369, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Chicago, Illinois?
The unemployment rate in Chicago, Illinois is 8.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.