City · Illinois
Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines, city, in Cook County, Illinois. Des Plaines had 58,772 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 60,675 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 59,156 (±278). GEOID 1719642.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
58,772
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 60,675 · ACS 2020-2024: 59,156 ±278
Median household income
$97,875
±$5,762 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$335,600
±$4,808 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$1,606
±$71 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Des Plaines and what county is it in?
Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, Illinois. It covers 14.2 square miles of land, 4,261 residents per square mile in 2020.
Des Plaines is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Des Plaines lies mostly within Maine Township (Cook County) and reaches into Elk Grove Township and Wheeling Township, towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Des Plaines, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 58,772 people lived in Des Plaines on July 1, 2025, down 3.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 60,675 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 59,156 (±278).
| Measure | Des Plaines | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 59,156 ±278 | 5,182,090 | +483 |
| Households | 22,537 ±580 | 2,100,230 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.58 ±0.06 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 23,856 ±658 | 2,276,493 | no clear change |
Des Plaines's population since 2000
From 58,720 in 2000 to 58,772 in 2025: up 0.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Des Plaines as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Des Plaines?
The median resident of Des Plaines is 42.3 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 20.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 54.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 23.1%. 34.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Des Plaines | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 ±1.1 | 38.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.4% ±1.1 pts | 21.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.8% ±1.2 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±1.1 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 23.1% ±1.9 pts | 26.8% | +3.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 54.8% ±2.3 pts | 40.1% | −8.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±1.1 pts | 21.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 14.9% ±1.7 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 34.2% ±2.1 pts | 21.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 47.6% ±2.5 pts | 35.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.4% ±0.8 pts | 3.2% | – |
| With a disability | 10.9% ±1.1 pts | 11.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1% ±1.4 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.1% ±1.3 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.9% ±1.7 pts | 42.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.7% ±1.4 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.3% ±1.3 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Des Plaines earn?
Half of Des Plaines's 22,537 households earn less than $97,875 a year (±$5,762), against $83,498 in Cook County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $85,853 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $12,022 after inflation. 6.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Des Plaines | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $97,875 ±$5,762 | $83,498 | +$12,022 |
| Mean household income | $118,116 ±$5,438 | $120,717 | – |
| Per capita income | $45,076 ±$2,407 | $49,329 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.0% ±1.3 pts | 13.5% | −2.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.8% ±3.1 pts | 17.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.9% ±1.6 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.6% ±0.9 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0% ±1.2 pts | 90.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Des Plaines?
Owners occupy 78.3% of Des Plaines's occupied homes and renters 21.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $335,600 by its owner (±$4,808). The median renter pays $1,606 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Des Plaines | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $335,600 ±$4,808 | $324,500 | +$19,681 |
| Median gross rent | $1,606 ±$71 | $1,435 | +$198 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.1% ±6.5 pts | 39.9% | −11.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,137 ±$48 | $2,270 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.3% ±2.1 pts | 57.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 21.7% ±2.1 pts | 42.3% | – |
| Housing units | 23,856 ±658 | 2,276,493 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.4% ±3.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.8% ±1.7 pts | 39.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.7% ±1.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.9% ±1.6 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.4% ±1.0 pts | 18.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Des Plaines building?
Builders took permits for 12 new housing units in Des Plaines in 2025 (12 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 5 of 12 months), 0.2 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Des Plaines work and get to work?
67.2% of Des Plaines's workers drive alone and 13.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Des Plaines | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.3% ±1.3 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% ±0.9 pts | 7.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 67.2% ±2.4 pts | 54.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4% ±1.8 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 4.0% ±0.9 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.4% ±0.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.9% ±1.7 pts | 18.9% | +10.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.2 min ±1.0 | 31.5 min | −1.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Des Plaines?
14 census tracts lie mostly in Des Plaines, and 7 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $55,449 (Tract 8051.11) to $131,714 (Tract 8049.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8051.11Cook County | 7,966 | $55,449 |
| Tract 8062.02Cook County | 5,251 | $77,544 |
| Tract 8061.03Cook County | 5,313 | $111,450 |
| Tract 8062.01Cook County | 4,425 | $70,343 |
| Tract 8049.02Cook County | 5,949 | $131,714 |
| Tract 8061.02Cook County | 4,183 | $103,212 |
| Tract 8063Cook County | 4,120 | $96,415 |
| Tract 8065.02Cook County | 3,855 | $87,449 |
| Tract 7706.01Cook County | 3,443 | $85,491 |
| Tract 8060.02Cook County | 7,800 | $64,450 |
| Tract 8066Cook County | 3,089 | $122,801 |
| Tract 8065.01Cook County | 2,581 | $89,881 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Des Plaines) · Census block assignment files
How does Des Plaines compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Des Plaines is the 694th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 20th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Des Plaines ranks 373rd of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 20th | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,015th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 87th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 373rd | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 399th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 184th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 158th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 890th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 283rd | 1,369 |
| Median age | 546th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 665th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 347th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 423rd | 1,382 |
Des Plaines's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Des Plaines with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Des Plaines?
5 of the 57 figures for Des Plaines on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Des Plaines are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Des Plaines.