Crete, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Crete is a small city located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 8,386. It ranks as the 256th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Crete is 48.9 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Crete is $97,147. This is 16% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 20% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.9%. This is 67% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $228,500. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Crete is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Crete is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 38.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (38.9% vs 13.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (7.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

32.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% 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 95.1%. Notably, 15.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Crete, 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.