Des Plaines city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Des Plaines city is a mid-sized community located in Illinois. The total population is 59,408. It ranks as the 20th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Des Plaines city is 42.8 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Des Plaines city is $94,303. This is 15% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.8%. This is 50% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $318,200. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Des Plaines city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.3%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (14.1% vs 5.8%).

Education

38.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% 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 89.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Des Plaines city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.