Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Metro Area

9,371,595Population

A metropolitan statistical area of 13 counties (9 central, 4 outlying), part of the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI combined area. The counties are tied together by commuting: people live in one and work in another.

Median household income: $90,887
Median home value: $323,000
Land area: 6,923 sq mi

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Counties in this metro area

Central counties hold the urban core; outlying counties are linked to it by commuting.

County	Role	Population	Median income	Median home value
Cook County, IL	Central	5,182,090	$83,498	$324,500
DuPage County, IL	Central	930,024	$112,096	$391,400
Lake County, IL	Central	714,223	$110,416	$345,700
Will County, IL	Central	701,462	$109,984	$319,600
Kane County, IL	Central	517,255	$103,163	$327,000
Lake County, IN	Central	500,379	$71,493	$230,600
McHenry County, IL	Central	312,591	$104,802	$308,100
Porter County, IN	Central	174,818	$87,972	$281,500
Kendall County, IL	Central	137,675	$111,601	$322,400
DeKalb County, IL	Outlying	100,703	$70,724	$243,600
Grundy County, IL	Outlying	53,219	$92,235	$271,700
Jasper County, IN	Outlying	33,234	$77,314	$221,500
Newton County, IN	Outlying	13,922	$75,481	$171,500

Largest cities and towns

576 places in our city pages lie in this area; the 25 largest are shown.

Place	Type	Population	Median income
Chicago, IL	City	2,711,226	$77,902
Aurora, IL	City	179,898	$93,633
North, IN	—	154,735	$61,798
Wheeling (Township), IL	—	153,991	$106,026
Thornton (Township), IL	—	153,682	$58,534
Naperville, IL	City	150,692	$155,105
Joliet, IL	City	150,445	$92,201
Worth (Township), IL	—	149,419	$77,966
Downers Grove (Township), IL	—	149,038	$117,335
Proviso, IL	—	147,690	$82,097
Maine, IL	—	137,069	$98,291
Schaumburg (Township), IL	—	131,761	$99,298
York, IL	—	127,667	$112,233
Aurora (Township), IL	—	126,432	$76,459
Milton, IL	—	119,372	$121,087
Lisle (Township), IL	—	118,895	$118,712
Elgin, IL	City	114,934	$90,282
Lyons (Township), IL	—	112,613	$92,619
Palatine (Township), IL	—	111,737	$104,916
Bloomingdale (Township), IL	—	111,175	$99,020
Niles (Township), IL	—	109,647	$97,280
Naperville (Township), IL	—	105,406	$120,026
Bremen, IL	—	104,594	$78,755
Elgin (Township), IL	—	104,350	$92,771
Hanover, IL	—	97,865	$99,697

Also in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI combined area

Kenosha, WI · metro · 168,438 Ottawa, IL · micro · 147,181 Michigan City-La Porte, IN · metro · 111,917 Kankakee, IL · metro · 106,635

Demographic Rates

Poverty Rate

11.2%

Unemployment

6.1%

College Educated

41.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1701, S2301, S1501

Race & Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B02001, B03003

Income Profile

Median Household Income

$90,887

Mean Household Income

$125,943

Income Distribution

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S1902, S1903, B19013, B19113

Sex Distribution

Male

49.2%

Female

50.8%

Population Split

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

The sex distribution of a population provides insight into the demographic balance of a community. Significant skews in this ratio can be influenced by local industries (e.g., military bases, mining, or tech hubs), educational institutions, or migration patterns. Understanding this balance is essential for planning public health initiatives and social services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Ancestry

Mexican18.4%

German12.7%

Irish10.1%

Polish7.8%

Italian6.1%

English4.9%

African1.3%

French1.2%

Scottish1.0%

Reported ancestry groups representing the cultural heritage of the population. Percentages may not sum to 100% as residents may report multiple ancestries or none.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B04006

Immigration & Nativity

Nativity Status

18.6%Foreign Born

81.4%Native Born

Citizenship Status

Naturalized53.2%

Non-Citizen46.8%

Period of Entry

2010 or Later25.6%

Before 201074.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B05001, B05002

Housing Characteristics

Total Housing Units

3,900,420

Median Rent

$1,430/mo

Median Home Value

$323,000

Median Year Built

1971

Housing Tenure

Housing Types

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table DP04

Education Enrollment

Total Enrolled

2,261,102

College Enrollment

18.9%

High School

22.4%

College Educated

41.6%

K-12 Enrollment

Higher Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1401, S1501

Transportation & Commute

Mean Commute Time

30.3 min

Drive Alone Rate

62.1%

Public Transit

7.5%

Work From Home

17.7%

Commute Mode

Vehicle Ownership

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0801, B08141

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.0%

18-34 Years

23.1%

35-64 Years

38.9%

65+ Years

16.0%

Population Composition

Under 1822.0%

18-3423.1%

35-6438.9%

65+16.0%

The age distribution of a community impacts local services, school requirements, and the labor market. A higher percentage of youth suggests a need for schools and family services, while a larger senior population may indicate a retirement destination or a need for healthcare services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Household Composition

Married Couples

45.5%

Single Parent

5.9%

Living Alone

30.3%

Avg Size

2.53

Household Types

Married Couples45.5%

Single Parent5.9%

Living Alone30.3%

Household composition offers insights into the social fabric of a community. A high percentage of married couples often correlates with stability and higher household incomes, while a significant number of single-person households may indicate a younger transient population or an aging community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1101

Economic Profile

Per Capita Income

$49,513

SNAP Usage

13.0%

Health Insurance

92.5%

Household Income Breakdown

Under $25k13.5%

$25k - $50k14.5%

$50k - $100k26.3%

$100k+45.7%

Key Industries

Manufacturing

11.1%

Retail Trade

10.0%

Education & Health Care

22.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S2201, DP03

Health & Disability

Disability Rate

10.9%With Disability

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability.

Health Insurance Coverage

92.5%With Coverage

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with health insurance coverage.

Why this matters: High disability rates may indicate a need for accessible infrastructure and specialized healthcare services. Health insurance coverage is a key indicator of a community's access to preventative care and financial resilience against medical emergencies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1810, S2701

Technology Access

Broadband Internet

91.9%vs ~90% National Avg

Computer Ownership

95.9%vs ~95% National Avg

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S2801

Cost of Living & Housing

Cost of Living Scale

Lower is better

103.6

0130

Below average< 97

Near average97 - 103

Above average> 103

Prices compared with the US average (100). 105 means about 5% more expensive than average.

Housing Affordability

Higher is better

141.1

0200

Hard to Afford< 80

Moderate80 - 100

Affordable> 100

100 means a family earning the median family income just qualifies to buy the median-value home (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.72%).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities · NAR affordability formula with Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes and home values and the Freddie Mac 30-year rate (2024)

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