Chicago Heights, Illinois Income Statistics
Chicago Heights Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Chicago Heights Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chicago Heights | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,657 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,897 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.3% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chicago Heights is about 31% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing faster in Chicago Heights (5.1%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Chicago Heights earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chicago Heights, Illinois grew by 44.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,657 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chicago Heights
| Metric | Chicago Heights | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.595 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,932 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,669 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 7.9% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Chicago Heights, it is 0.595, higher than Illinois's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 9% more than women's income in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 9% wage gap accumulates to roughly $149,205 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chicago Heights, Illinois has widened from about 7% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2016, and was narrowest at 6% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,542 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chicago Heights | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 13.2% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.7% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,609 people are unemployed in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
The average commute time in Chicago Heights is 23 minutes, about the same as in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chicago Heights, Illinois has fallen from 16.5% to 13.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 19.1% in 2014 and fell as low as 11.0% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chicago Heights, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Illinois, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
How Rich Is Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Chicago Heights has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $57,657, about 31% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chicago Heights, Illinois rose 44%, from $39,925 to $57,657. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +44% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Chicago Heights in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chicago Heights, Illinois was $58,047, about the same as in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Chicago Heights in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chicago Heights, Illinois was $50,050. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $57,657.
Is it hard to find a job in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Unemployment in Chicago Heights, Illinois is 13.2%, well above the Illinois rate of 5.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Chicago Heights is 0.595. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chicago Heights, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chicago Heights, Illinois has widened from about 7% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2016, and was narrowest at 6% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,542 since 2009.
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