Highland Park, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Highland Park, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Highland Park, Illinois had a total population of 30,398, the 64th largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $168,094, which is 102% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 4.2%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 102% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Illinois.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 4.2% — among the lowest in Illinois.
76.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Illinois.

Highland Park Quick Facts

Population 30,398

Median Household Income $168,094

Median Home Value $607,300

Poverty Rate 4.2%

Unemployment Rate 3.2%

Median Age 45.0 years

Homeownership Rate 83.8%

Affordability Ratio 3.6x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 76.9%

High School Graduation Rate 97.2%

Diversity Index 33/100

Population 30,398 64th of 1,445

Median Income $168,094 top 10%

Poverty Rate 4.2% 67% lower than national

Median Home Value $607,300 top 10%

How Highland Park Changed

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

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	30,229	30,398	+0.6%
Median household income	$161,875	$168,094	+3.8%
Median home value	$594,400	$607,300	+2.2%

How Highland Park Compares

Median Household Income

Highland Park

$168,094

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Highland Park

$607,300

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.6%

$25K-$50K 10.9%

$50K-$100K 12.8%

$100K+ 69.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.6%

$10K-$15K

1.5%

$15K-$20K

0.7%

$20K-$25K

1.8%

$25K-$30K

1.4%

$30K-$35K

5.0%

$35K-$40K

1.0%

$40K-$45K

1.3%

$45K-$50K

2.3%

$50K-$60K

3.5%

$60K-$75K

2.8%

$75K-$100K

6.6%

$100K-$125K

9.3%

$125K-$150K

5.0%

$150K-$200K

11.5%

$200K+

43.8%

Employment

3.2% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

65.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.8%

Renter 16.2%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,925/mo 13.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.8%

18-34

13.2%

35-54

24.7%

55-74

27.4%

75+

10.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Highland Park Rankings in Illinois

#64 Population of 1,445

#31 Median Income of 1,374

#19 Education of 1,444

#32 Home Value of 1,372

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

Other Cities in Lake County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Waukegan	89,076	$71,919	15.3%	$190,900
Mundelein	31,915	$108,340	8.2%	$309,700
North Chicago	30,643	$60,172	24.5%	$159,600
Gurnee	30,510	$119,628	5.2%	$344,300
Round Lake Beach	27,079	$86,059	14.8%	$199,200
Vernon Hills	26,876	$121,943	6.1%	$412,300
Zion	24,600	$63,104	16.0%	$183,800
Grayslake	20,929	$113,972	6.3%	$309,500
Libertyville	20,525	$165,667	4.2%	$512,000
Lake Zurich	19,832	$135,968	3.4%	$435,300

Cities Similar to Highland Park

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Algonquin	30,067	$134,525	$351,000	43.6%	4.1%
Glen Ellyn	28,390	$140,938	$544,000	68.2%	6.3%
Northbrook	34,585	$157,782	$652,300	72.6%	4.3%
Wilmette	27,503	$190,662	$810,600	83.6%	3.2%
New Lenox	28,006	$140,865	$399,900	47.6%	1.5%

Population Overview

Highland Park is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within Lake County. The total population is 30,398. It ranks as the 64th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Highland Park is 45.0 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.8% 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 Highland Park is $168,094. This is 102% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 108% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.2%. This is 65% 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 3.2%. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $607,300. Housing costs are 131% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 83.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Highland Park is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.0%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

76.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Highland Park in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 103% 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 97.2%. Notably, 39.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Highland Park, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Highland Park, Illinois?

Highland Park, Illinois has a population of 30,398 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Highland Park, IL?

The median household income in Highland Park is $168,094, which is 108% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Highland Park, IL?

The poverty rate in Highland Park is 4.2%. This means approximately 1,258 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Highland Park, Illinois?

Highland Park's population is 80.8% White, 2.0% Black, 11.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Highland Park, IL?

The median home value in Highland Park is $607,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x.

How educated is Highland Park, Illinois?

76.9% of adults (25+) in Highland Park hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 39.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.