Chicago Heights, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Chicago Heights is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 26,736. It ranks as the 81st most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chicago Heights is 35.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chicago Heights is $54,798. This is 34% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.9%. This is 128% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 14.5%. This is 149% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $161,000. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Chicago Heights is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Chicago Heights is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 35.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (21.4%) is well below the state average of 58.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.3% vs 13.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (35.5% vs 18.8%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

20.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chicago Heights, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.