Chicago, IL — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 2,707,648 · Illinois · Updated May 2026
Population
2,707,648
Median Income
$75,134
Home Price
$324,183
Unemployment
7.9%
Poverty Rate
16.8%
Bachelor's+
43.3%
Full Demographics — Chicago, IL
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,707,648 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 20.7% | 13.8% | |
| White | 39.1% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 28.4% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 7.1% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 29.6% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $75,134 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $48,148 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $68,110 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 16.8% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 43.3% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $324,183 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.5% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 344 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1842 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.6% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.0% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.0% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 19.0% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.9% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 49.2°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 37.8 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.4 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Chicago, IL | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 36.5 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Chicago with Another City
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About Chicago, IL
Chicago is a city in Illinois, United States. With a population of 2,707,648, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Chicago shows stronger educational attainment (43.3% bachelor's degree vs 35.8% bachelor's degree US avg) and violent crime rate (344/100K violent crime vs 380/100K violent crime US avg). However, the city has a higher unemployment at 7.9% unemployment, compared to the US average of 3.8% unemployment. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.