Winnetka, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Winnetka, 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, Winnetka, Illinois had a total population of 12,484, the 191st largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $250,000+, which is 200% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 1.6%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 200% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Illinois.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 1.6% — among the lowest in Illinois.
86.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Illinois.

Winnetka Quick Facts

Population 12,484

Median Household Income $250,000+

Median Home Value $1,337,800

Poverty Rate 1.6%

Unemployment Rate 3.4%

Median Age 41.5 years

Homeownership Rate 92.0%

Affordability Ratio 5.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 86.7%

High School Graduation Rate 99.1%

Diversity Index 22/100

Population 12,484 191st of 1,445

Median Income $250,000+ top 10%

Poverty Rate 1.6% 87% lower than national

Median Home Value $1,337,800 top 10%

How Winnetka 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	12,508	12,484	-0.2%
Median household income	$250,000+	$250,000+	+0.0%
Median home value	$1,206,300	$1,337,800	+10.9%

How Winnetka Compares

Median Household Income

Winnetka

$250,001

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Winnetka

$1,337,800

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 3.1%

$25K-$50K 7.4%

$50K-$100K 11.4%

$100K+ 78.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.1%

$10K-$15K

1.3%

$15K-$20K

0.2%

$20K-$25K

0.4%

$25K-$30K

0.9%

$30K-$35K

2.4%

$35K-$40K

0.8%

$40K-$45K

1.4%

$45K-$50K

1.9%

$50K-$60K

3.7%

$60K-$75K

3.3%

$75K-$100K

4.5%

$100K-$125K

3.6%

$125K-$150K

2.6%

$150K-$200K

5.0%

$200K+

66.8%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

59.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 92.0%

Renter 8.0%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,842/mo 8.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

34.5%

18-34

7.6%

35-54

27.5%

55-74

23.4%

75+

7.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very 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+)

Winnetka Rankings in Illinois

#191 Population of 1,445

#1 Median Income of 1,374

#6 Education of 1,444

#3 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 Winnetka

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Western Springs	13,446	$230,255	$739,400	83.8%	1.3%
Campton Hills	10,877	$209,134	$547,500	59.7%	2.9%
River Forest	11,992	$146,786	$687,300	72.9%	2.7%
Hinsdale	17,175	$250,000+	$1,053,700	80.8%	2.9%
Burr Ridge	11,141	$156,829	$700,400	66.6%	3.9%

Population Overview

Winnetka is a small city located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 12,484. It ranks as the 191st most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Winnetka is 41.5 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. With 34.5% of the population under 18, Winnetka has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Winnetka is $250,000+. This is 200% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 210% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.6%. This is 86% 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 3.4%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $1,337,800. Housing costs are 408% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 92.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Winnetka has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (88.1% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

86.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Winnetka in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 129% 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 99.1%. Notably, 51.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Winnetka, 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 Winnetka, Illinois?

Winnetka, Illinois has a population of 12,484 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Winnetka, IL?

The median household income in Winnetka is $250,000+, which is 210% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Winnetka, IL?

The poverty rate in Winnetka is 1.6%. This means approximately 199 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Winnetka, Illinois?

Winnetka's population is 88.1% White, 0.3% Black, 3.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.6% Asian.

What is the median home value in Winnetka, IL?

The median home value in Winnetka is $1,337,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x.

How educated is Winnetka, Illinois?

86.7% of adults (25+) in Winnetka hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 51.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.