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Palos Hills, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Palos Hills, Illinois had a total population of 18,081, the 140th largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $83,533, which is about the same as the state average. The poverty rate is 8.4%.

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

Palos Hills Quick Facts

Population 18,081
Median Household Income $83,533
Median Home Value $279,200
Poverty Rate 8.4%
Unemployment Rate 4.1%
Median Age 41.7 years
Homeownership Rate 76.9%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 27.6%
High School Graduation Rate 87.0%
Diversity Index 36/100
Population 18,081 140th of 1,445
Median Income $83,533 top 30%
Poverty Rate 8.4% 33% lower than national
Median Home Value $279,200 top 20%

How Palos Hills Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population18,13918,081-0.3%
Median household income$83,969$83,533-0.5%
Median home value$259,200$279,200+7.7%

How Palos Hills Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.5%
$25K-$50K 20.0%
$50K-$100K 27.5%
$100K+ 39.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.7%
$10K-$15K
2.1%
$15K-$20K
3.0%
$20K-$25K
2.6%
$25K-$30K
4.1%
$30K-$35K
6.2%
$35K-$40K
3.3%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
5.0%
$60K-$75K
7.7%
$75K-$100K
14.8%
$100K-$125K
10.2%
$125K-$150K
10.0%
$150K-$200K
11.9%
$200K+
6.9%

Employment

4.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
62.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.9%
Renter 23.1%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,269/mo 18.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

36out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Palos Hills Rankings in Illinois

#140 Population of 1,445
#401 Median Income of 1,374
#377 Education of 1,444
#199 Home Value of 1,372

Other Cities in Cook County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome 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 Palos Hills

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Bourbonnais18,078$81,708$253,10034.1%9.5%
Sycamore18,559$84,120$265,70046.0%8.1%
Bellwood18,256$79,513$230,00017.2%11.7%
Franklin Park18,197$76,519$287,00019.7%9.4%
Bensenville18,603$79,515$272,00019.4%7.6%

Population Overview

Palos Hills is a small city located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 18,081. It ranks as the 140th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palos Hills is 41.7 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Palos Hills is $83,533. This is about the same as the state median of $83,390. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 29% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $279,200. Housing costs are 6% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 76.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Palos Hills is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.4%. The Black or African American population (6.2%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

27.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% 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 87.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palos Hills, 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 Palos Hills, Illinois?

Palos Hills, Illinois has a population of 18,081 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Palos Hills, IL?

The median household income in Palos Hills is $83,533, which is 3% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Palos Hills, IL?

The poverty rate in Palos Hills is 8.4%. This means approximately 1,500 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Palos Hills, Illinois?

Palos Hills's population is 79.3% White, 6.2% Black, 10.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.9% Asian.

What is the median home value in Palos Hills, IL?

The median home value in Palos Hills is $279,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.

How educated is Palos Hills, Illinois?

27.6% of adults (25+) in Palos Hills hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.