City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Carol Stream, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Carol Stream - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

39,427
Residents
$105,395
Median income
$308,700
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Carol Stream - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Carol Stream places in the 81st percentile for household income and the 73rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

81st
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
73rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Carol Stream, IL

Illinois's Carol Stream is a small city, with 39,427 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Carol Stream households earn a median of $105,395 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.8%. Carol Stream's housing stock carries a median value of $308,700, and the median resident age is 39.3 years. About 43.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 67.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 8 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 700% from five years earlier. Carol Stream reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 780.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Illinois at 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,781 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

39,427 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$105,395 /yr

Poverty 4.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Carol Stream compare to other US cities?

Here's how Carol Stream stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 73% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Illinois, Carol Stream ranks #189 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Carol Stream against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Carol Stream toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,315 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Carol Stream ranks #143 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Carol Stream only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#184 of 1,311
86th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#143 of 1,315
89th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#862 of 1,335
35th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#150 of 1,336
89th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

81stIncome percentile
73rdSafety percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income · 73rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Carol Stream's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Carol Stream's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 62 Avg. percentile National median
Carol Stream's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Carol Stream's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$308,700 34th percentile more affordable than 34% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Carol Stream $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Carol Stream, IL Carol Stream, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carol Stream, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Carol Stream, IL median $105,395/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Carol Stream, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Carol Stream, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
39,427
Median Income
$105,395
Median Home Value
$308,700
Median Age
39.3
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Labor force participation
67.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
780.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
69.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
710.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
39,000 residents39,200 residents39,400 residents39,600 residents39,800 residents40,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 39,762 residents 39,315 residents ▼ -1.1%
Carol Stream's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
8
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 18
2024 8

Permit volume increased 700% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.3%
Carpool
10.9%
Public Transit
2.7%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
13.4%
Other
0.7%

Based on 21,014 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Carol Stream sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Park Ridge
39,241 people
Quincy
39,188 people
Streamwood
39,055 people
Wheeling
38,495 people
Urbana
38,447 people
Crystal Lake
40,436 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carol Stream's 39,427 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lakewood Ranch, FL
39,434 people
Chelsea, MA
39,460 people
Rosenberg, TX
39,467 people
Issaquah, WA
39,472 people
Aventura, FL
39,372 people
Dover, DE
39,491 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carol Stream's $105,395 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Woodstock, GA
$105,396 median income
The Acreage, FL
$105,405 median income
La Cueva CDP (Santa Fe County), NM
$105,385 median income
Shirley, NY
$105,379 median income
Orchard Grass Hills, KY
$105,417 median income
Chase, PA
$105,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carol Stream, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Carol Stream, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.7% 6.4% 19.6% 8.9% 10.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.4% White 53.7% Black or African American 6.4% Asian 19.6% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 8.9% Two or more races 10.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Carol Stream compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Carol Stream (this city) 39,427 $105,395
Park Ridge 39,241 $138,059
Quincy 39,188 $56,372
Streamwood 39,055 $101,049
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carol Stream, IL?

What is the population of Carol Stream, IL? +

Carol Stream, IL has a population of 39,427 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Carol Stream, IL? +

Carol Stream households earn a median of $105,395 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carol Stream? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Carol Stream; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Carol Stream, IL safe? +

Carol Stream has a total crime rate of 780.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Carol Stream, IL? +

A typical home in Carol Stream is worth $308,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.