Get to know Chicago, IL

Population, income, housing, education, poverty, commutes and remote work in Chicago, IL, compared with the county, the state and the United States.

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.

City snapshot

• Population: 2,707,648
• Median age: 35.7
• Median household income: $75,134
• Median home value: $315,200
• Median gross rent: $1,380
• Homeownership: 45.5%
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 43.3%
• Poverty rate: 16.8%
• Work from home: 18.3%

All census stories about Chicago

• Is Chicago growing? — Population change, median age and how your city's growth compares.
• Can you afford to live in Chicago? — Income, home values, rent and how much of a paycheck housing takes.
• Who owns and who rents in Chicago? — The homeowner-renter split and how it's shifted since 2015.
• How long is the commute in Chicago? — Average travel time to work and how people here get there.
• How educated is Chicago? — College degrees, advanced degrees and how the local share compares.
• Who's struggling to get by in Chicago? — Poverty rate, household income and how many residents live below the line.
• Who works from home in Chicago? — Remote work since 2015, how it reshaped commuting and how your city compares.
• How does Chicago compare with America? — One profile: income, housing, education, poverty and commute versus the U.S.