West Chicago, Illinois Income Statistics
Updated
West Chicago 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.
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B
West Chicago Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | West Chicago | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $95,968 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,805 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.7% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in West Chicago is about 14% higher than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in West Chicago (4.0%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 12% of adults in West Chicago 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 West Chicago, Illinois grew by 32.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $95,968 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
West Chicago has stayed well above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never fallen below it. It came closest in 2020, at 16% higher. The gap has narrowed from 42% in 2009 to 19% in 2024.
Income Distribution in West Chicago
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 3,038 households (47.8% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 16.4% of households in West Chicago had an income under $35,000 and 27.9% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., West Chicago has a larger share of households earning $150,000 to $199,999 (14.5% vs 9.5%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (6.9% vs 10.1%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 144 | 2.3% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 153 | 2.4% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 308 | 4.8% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 437 | 6.9% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 438 | 6.9% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 963 | 15.1% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 879 | 13.8% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,264 | 19.9% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 922 | 14.5% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 852 | 13.4% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 6,359 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 1,988 residents (11.7% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 13.5% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 13.6% of West Chicago residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 29.9% had some income but less than $25,000, and 18.4% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., West Chicago has a larger share of residents earning $1 to $9,999 (13.3% vs 11.2%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (11.7% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 2,304 | 13.6% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 2,261 | 13.3% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,093 | 6.4% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,728 | 10.2% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,781 | 10.5% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,227 | 13.1% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,470 | 14.5% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,145 | 6.7% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 1,988 | 11.7% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 16,997 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 13.6% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in West Chicago
| Metric | West Chicago | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.562 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,128 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,267 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.7% | 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 West Chicago, it is 0.562, 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 23% more than women's income in West Chicago, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $380,135 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Chicago, Illinois has narrowed from about 22% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2010, and was narrowest at 11% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,205 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | West Chicago | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.0% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 979 people are unemployed in West Chicago, Illinois.
The average commute time in West Chicago is 21 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in West Chicago, Illinois has fallen from 9.3% to 8.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.4% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2018.
West Chicago has been above the U.S. unemployment rate in most years since 2011, but dipped below it in 2015-2019 (as much as 2.5 points lower). In 2024 its rate was 3.0 points higher.
West Chicago, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How West Chicago, IL compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Chicago, IL | 21,065 | $95,968 #3/3 | 4.0%/yr #2/3 | 8.2% #3/3 | 0.562 #3/3 |
| Bartlett, IL | 33,124 | $126,830 | 4.3%/yr | 3.3% | 0.521 |
| St. Charles, IL | 31,856 | $110,703 | 2.6%/yr | 4.1% | 0.523 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, West Chicago, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Illinois, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in West Chicago, Illinois.
How Rich Is West Chicago, Illinois?
West Chicago has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $95,968, about 14% higher than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How has median household income changed in West Chicago, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in West Chicago, Illinois rose 32%, from $72,570 to $95,968. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +32% against +52%.
What was the median household income in West Chicago in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in West Chicago, Illinois was $95,323, up 10% from $86,681 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in West Chicago in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in West Chicago, Illinois was $74,929. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $95,968.
How strong is the job market in West Chicago, Illinois?
Unemployment in West Chicago, Illinois is 8.2%, well above the Illinois rate of 5.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in West Chicago, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in West Chicago is 0.562. 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 West Chicago, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Chicago, Illinois has narrowed from about 22% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2010, and was narrowest at 11% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,205 since 2009.
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