Palos Heights city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Palos Heights city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 11,817. It ranks as the 199th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palos Heights city is 51.2 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 13.6% 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 Palos Heights city is $107,974. This is 32% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.9%. This is 50% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $350,000. Housing costs are 40% higher than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 95.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Palos Heights city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.0%. The Black or African American population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.0%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

43.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% 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 97.7%. Notably, 17.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palos Heights 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.