Ford Heights, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ford Heights is a small community located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 1,331. It ranks as the 618th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ford Heights is 52.4 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 13.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ford Heights is $36,053. This is 57% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.6%. This is 125% 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 13.9%. This is 137% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $66,300. Housing costs are 75% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Ford Heights is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 51.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ford Heights has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 95.3% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 3.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 58.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (95.3% vs 13.3%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

9.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% 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 85.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ford 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.