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Cook County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Cook County, Illinois has a population of 5,182,090, the 1st most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $83,498 and the median home value is $324,500. The poverty rate is 13.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Cook County Quick Facts

Population 5,182,090
Median Household Income $83,498
Median Home Value $324,500
Poverty Rate 13.5%
Unemployment Rate 7.0%
Median Age 38.0 years
Homeownership Rate 57.7%
Affordability Ratio 3.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 42.7%
High School Graduation 88.6%
Cities/Places 136
Population 5,182,090 1st of 102
Median Income $83,498 about the same as state
Poverty Rate 13.5%
Unemployment 7.0%

How Cook County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population5,185,8125,182,090-0.1%
Median household income$81,797$83,498+2.1%
Median home value$305,200$324,500+6.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.8%
$25K-$50K 15.7%
$50K-$100K 26.2%
$100K+ 42.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.1%
$10K-$15K
3.7%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
3.1%
$25K-$30K
3.2%
$30K-$35K
3.1%
$35K-$40K
3.2%
$40K-$45K
3.1%
$45K-$50K
3.1%
$50K-$60K
5.6%
$60K-$75K
8.3%
$75K-$100K
12.2%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
7.3%
$150K-$200K
9.8%
$200K+
15.2%

Employment

7.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
66.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 57.7%
Renter 42.3%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,435/mo 20.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

71out of 100
Very High Diversity

This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cook County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Chicago2,711,226$77,90216.8%$334,100
Elgin114,934$90,2829.8%$273,000
Cicero82,797$70,84214.6%$249,400
Schaumburg76,868$97,5145.7%$330,400
Evanston76,340$96,43411.8%$481,200
Arlington Heights76,005$116,7236.0%$414,500
Palatine66,293$97,8198.2%$355,600
Skokie66,219$95,3379.7%$387,200
Des Plaines59,156$97,8756.0%$335,600
Orland Park57,916$98,9107.3%$367,200
Oak Lawn56,861$83,9119.6%$281,200
Berwyn55,595$78,40810.9%$299,800
Mount Prospect55,472$101,7206.6%$397,400
Tinley Park54,842$105,1895.0%$299,900
Oak Park53,292$110,8207.4%$465,500
Hoffman Estates51,175$106,8067.1%$351,900
Glenview47,752$143,0566.0%$609,600
Elmhurst45,671$149,6443.3%$545,400
Buffalo Grove42,891$129,3957.2%$412,300
Bartlett40,501$133,2404.2%$375,700
Streamwood39,001$101,21810.2%$271,200
Park Ridge38,667$142,9862.9%$551,200
Wheeling38,433$85,20510.0%$266,200
Hanover Park36,732$91,76312.5%$274,200
Calumet City35,100$55,36923.4%$145,200
Northbrook34,585$157,7824.3%$652,300
Woodridge33,941$101,0005.5%$363,700
Elk Grove Village31,987$94,1757.9%$347,100
Niles30,064$75,2748.5%$358,700
Burbank28,739$80,11612.9%$275,700
Lansing28,284$75,56914.0%$177,000
Wilmette27,503$190,6623.2%$810,600
Oak Forest26,805$91,9906.5%$255,100
Chicago Heights26,736$54,79826.9%$161,000
Morton Grove24,619$111,1167.3%$389,100
Melrose Park24,549$66,18912.3%$275,800
Homer Glen24,529$136,6784.3%$418,800
Rolling Meadows24,027$98,5148.5%$326,200
Elmwood Park23,868$91,9558.0%$339,300
Maywood23,201$68,81515.5%$229,800
Roselle22,752$111,3184.1%$344,700
Blue Island21,741$59,48917.1%$178,700
Park Forest21,156$61,07217.6%$115,300
South Holland20,911$85,28014.4%$217,200
Dolton20,825$57,88721.7%$151,300
Frankfort20,651$154,3753.2%$481,200
Harvey20,230$42,42922.6%$88,100
Deerfield19,518$181,6602.8%$623,400
Evergreen Park19,420$95,7194.0%$267,500
Brookfield19,331$110,2955.4%$332,400
Homewood19,294$100,1399.4%$221,100
Matteson18,645$95,4579.7%$250,600
Bensenville18,603$79,5157.6%$272,000
Alsip18,583$66,58512.1%$225,000
Bellwood18,256$79,51311.7%$230,000
Franklin Park18,197$76,5199.4%$287,000
Palos Hills18,081$83,5338.4%$279,200
Lemont17,820$123,3703.1%$468,800
Hinsdale17,175$250,000+2.9%$1,053,700
Bridgeview16,849$66,65512.8%$236,400
Westchester16,436$98,9545.0%$327,300
Country Club Hills16,324$75,19710.1%$192,000
La Grange15,998$159,9294.6%$594,300
Prospect Heights15,618$85,0087.3%$346,500
Norridge15,439$87,8077.9%$374,900
Hickory Hills14,526$77,26211.3%$288,000
Chicago Ridge14,099$68,96420.4%$226,900
Midlothian13,948$70,0009.8%$207,000
Forest Park13,943$77,22111.6%$304,700
Hazel Crest13,792$68,39323.9%$185,300
La Grange Park13,447$120,4084.9%$439,800
Western Springs13,446$230,2551.3%$739,400
Lincolnwood13,112$109,7316.3%$496,400
Richton Park12,521$64,5548.8%$220,900
Northlake12,513$83,89210.9%$259,800
Winnetka12,484$250,000+1.6%$1,337,800
Justice12,324$57,17019.4%$238,400
Palos Heights12,152$108,7405.2%$367,100
River Forest11,992$146,7862.7%$687,300
Schiller Park11,393$69,6962.5%$275,000
Markham11,355$57,30218.0%$135,300
Burr Ridge11,141$156,8293.9%$700,400
Barrington11,077$147,9894.6%$582,500
Summit10,846$61,86311.2%$232,600
Worth10,700$56,28821.1%$215,000
Crestwood10,579$75,75213.0%$195,200
River Grove10,451$69,8586.2%$241,800
Riverdale10,340$39,83341.5%$113,800
Lyons10,339$70,99314.0%$257,300
Sauk Village9,678$69,97317.6%$110,800
Steger9,418$66,57512.6%$156,700
Flossmoor9,391$133,6635.5%$344,800
Lynwood9,083$85,2379.2%$218,000
Riverside9,039$153,6863.3%$491,400
Harwood Heights8,821$81,0864.1%$321,900
Glencoe8,701$248,9332.1%$1,432,500
Glenwood8,603$77,39110.6%$198,100
Crete8,386$97,1473.9%$228,500
Hillside8,084$72,3206.6%$246,800
Broadview7,896$64,6979.4%$252,200
University Park7,306$73,84414.4%$153,200
Inverness7,275$207,4342.6%$715,600
North Riverside7,249$77,1707.9%$297,800
Stickney6,952$66,94212.3%$244,900
Calumet Park6,855$53,55614.1%$184,700
Orland Hills6,719$122,0396.4%$280,300
Countryside6,267$80,96810.0%$324,700
Willow Springs5,868$103,5834.1%$378,300
Northfield5,487$161,5003.2%$878,300
Posen5,292$73,05121.5%$172,900
Berkeley5,199$85,82317.5%$246,900
South Barrington5,021$221,5751.0%$908,300
Palos Park4,816$121,6968.5%$464,700
Olympia Fields4,734$123,87513.7%$329,000
Robbins4,556$40,66828.7%$121,300
Stone Park4,482$67,22411.7%$242,100
Hometown4,215$61,1016.9%$173,400
Indian Head Park3,974$100,1497.4%$356,600
Burnham3,937$57,79015.7%$161,300
South Chicago Heights3,907$58,69130.6%$149,300
Barrington Hills3,879$205,0748.2%$913,600
Deer Park3,711$174,4581.3%$661,300
Rosemont3,290$63,5176.8%$344,900
East Dundee3,146$89,58311.8%$300,000
Dixmoor2,948$44,60023.6%$84,400
Kenilworth2,503$250,000+2.1%$1,560,300
Merrionette Park2,354$56,5158.0%$173,400
Thornton1,940$59,64715.1%$155,100
Phoenix1,751$30,28821.5%$96,200
Hodgkins1,597$62,41715.6%$45,800
Ford Heights1,331$36,05326.6%$66,300
Forest View1,174$89,7020.9%$260,500
East Hazel Crest1,068$54,95024.3%$158,300
Bedford Park586$99,00016.5%$271,700
Golf518$242,7724.8%$954,700
McCook268$62,3757.5%$332,100

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Cook County is located in Illinois with a total population of 5,182,090. It is the 1st most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 136 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cook County is 38.0 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cook County is $83,498. This is about the same as the state median of $83,390. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.5%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $324,500. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 57.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

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 26.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (21.8% vs 13.3%).

Education

42.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cook County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 13% higher 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 88.6%. Notably, 18.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cook County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cook County, Illinois?

Cook County has a population of 5,182,090, making it the 1st most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Cook County?

The median household income in Cook County is $83,498 with a poverty rate of 13.5%.

How many cities are in Cook County, Illinois?

Cook County contains 136 Census-designated places.