Hazel Crest, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hazel Crest is a small city located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 13,792. It ranks as the 182nd most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hazel Crest is 38.1 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.1% 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 Hazel Crest is $68,393. This is 18% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.9%. This is 103% 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 14.3%. This is 145% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $185,300. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Hazel Crest is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hazel Crest is Black or African American, making up 84.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 7.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (7.2%) is well below the state average of 58.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (84.6% vs 13.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (6.1%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

23.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 90.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hazel Crest, 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.