Northbrook, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Northbrook, 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, Northbrook, Illinois had a total population of 34,585, the 54th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $157,782, which is 89% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 4.3%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 89% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Illinois.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 4.3% — among the lowest in Illinois.
72.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Illinois.

Northbrook Quick Facts

Population 34,585

Median Household Income $157,782

Median Home Value $652,300

Poverty Rate 4.3%

Unemployment Rate 3.2%

Median Age 49.6 years

Homeownership Rate 87.2%

Affordability Ratio 4.1x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 72.6%

High School Graduation Rate 97.2%

Diversity Index 43/100

Population 34,585 54th of 1,445

Median Income $157,782 top 10%

Poverty Rate 4.3% 65% lower than national

Median Home Value $652,300 top 10%

How Northbrook 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	34,642	34,585	-0.2%
Median household income	$155,321	$157,782	+1.6%
Median home value	$644,100	$652,300	+1.3%

How Northbrook Compares

Median Household Income

Northbrook

$157,782

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Northbrook

$652,300

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 7.1%

$25K-$50K 7.3%

$50K-$100K 18.0%

$100K+ 67.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.7%

$10K-$15K

0.8%

$15K-$20K

1.0%

$20K-$25K

1.7%

$25K-$30K

1.9%

$30K-$35K

1.6%

$35K-$40K

1.8%

$40K-$45K

0.9%

$45K-$50K

1.1%

$50K-$60K

4.2%

$60K-$75K

5.3%

$75K-$100K

8.6%

$100K-$125K

8.2%

$125K-$150K

8.3%

$150K-$200K

10.1%

$200K+

40.9%

Employment

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

59.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 87.2%

Renter 12.8%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $2,463/mo 18.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.2%

18-34

11.3%

35-54

25.5%

55-74

28.5%

75+

13.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Northbrook Rankings in Illinois

#54 Population of 1,445

#40 Median Income of 1,374

#31 Education of 1,444

#27 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 Cook County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Chicago	2,711,226	$77,902	16.8%	$334,100
Elgin	114,934	$90,282	9.8%	$273,000
Cicero	82,797	$70,842	14.6%	$249,400
Schaumburg	76,868	$97,514	5.7%	$330,400
Evanston	76,340	$96,434	11.8%	$481,200
Arlington Heights	76,005	$116,723	6.0%	$414,500
Palatine	66,293	$97,819	8.2%	$355,600
Skokie	66,219	$95,337	9.7%	$387,200
Des Plaines	59,156	$97,875	6.0%	$335,600
Orland Park	57,916	$98,910	7.3%	$367,200

Cities Similar to Northbrook

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Highland Park	30,398	$168,094	$607,300	76.9%	4.2%
Park Ridge	38,667	$142,986	$551,200	66.1%	2.9%
Oswego	36,375	$123,792	$344,500	44.3%	2.6%
St. Charles	32,854	$114,300	$377,400	52.0%	4.5%
Algonquin	30,067	$134,525	$351,000	43.6%	4.1%

Population Overview

Northbrook is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 34,585. It ranks as the 54th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Northbrook is 49.6 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 13.5% 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 Northbrook is $157,782. This is 89% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 95% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 63% 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 $652,300. Housing costs are 148% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 87.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Northbrook is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.8% of the population. Asian residents account for 16.2%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (16.2% vs 5.9%).

Education

72.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Northbrook in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 92% 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, 39.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Northbrook, 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 Northbrook, Illinois?

Northbrook, Illinois has a population of 34,585 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Northbrook, IL?

The median household income in Northbrook is $157,782, which is 95% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Northbrook, IL?

The poverty rate in Northbrook is 4.3%. This means approximately 1,473 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Northbrook, Illinois?

Northbrook's population is 73.8% White, 1.8% Black, 5.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 16.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Northbrook, IL?

The median home value in Northbrook is $652,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x.

How educated is Northbrook, Illinois?

72.6% of adults (25+) in Northbrook hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 39.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.