Cook County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cook County is located in Illinois with a total population of 5,185,812. It is the 1st most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cook County is 37.8 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cook County is $81,797. This is about average than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% higher. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $305,200. Housing costs are 22% higher than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 57.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cook County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.1% vs 13.6%).

Education

41.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cook County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.3%. Notably, 17.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.