City · Illinois

Highland Park, Illinois

Highland Park, city, in Lake County, Illinois. Highland Park had 30,767 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 30,176 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 30,398 (±43). GEOID 1734722.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

30,767

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,176 · ACS 2020-2024: 30,398 ±43

Median household income

$168,094

±$17,851 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$607,300

±$40,019 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$1,925

±$124 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is Highland Park and what county is it in?

Highland Park is a city in Lake County, Illinois. It covers 12.2 square miles of land, 2,467 residents per square mile in 2020.

Highland Park is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Highland Park lies mostly within Moraine Township and reaches into West Deerfield Township, towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).

Highland Park (marked with a dot) in Lake County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Highland Park, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 30,767 people lived in Highland Park on July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, while Illinois shrank 0.8%. The 2020 Census counted 30,176 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 30,398 (±43).

  • July 2020→2021 +57 (30,216)
  • 2021→2022 +54 (30,270)
  • 2022→2023 +185 (30,455)
  • 2023→2024 +193 (30,648)
  • 2024→2025 +119 (30,767)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Highland ParkLake CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Total population 30,398 ±43 714,223 12,694,798 +770
Households 11,787 ±400 258,455 5,036,449 no clear change
Average household size 2.55 ±0.09 2.69 2.46 no clear change
Housing units 12,488 ±439 270,618 5,457,452 no clear change

Highland Park's population since 2000

From 31,365 in 2000 to 30,767 in 2025: down 1.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Highland Park 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.

  • 2000 Census 31,365
  • 2005 (estimate) 30,463
  • 2010 Census 29,763
  • 2015 (estimate) 29,747
  • 2020 Census 30,176
  • 2025 (estimate) 30,767

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 Highland Park?

The median resident of Highland Park is 45.0 years old; 23.8% are under 18 and 24.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.0%. 10.5% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Highland ParkLake CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median age 45.0 ±2.4 39.1 39.0 no clear change
Under 18 years 23.8% ±1.7 pts 23.3% 21.8% –
65 years and over 24.3% ±2.1 pts 15.8% 17.0% –
Male 47.7% ±1.7 pts 50.3% 49.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.0% ±2.9 pts 24.9% 18.8% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 80.8% ±2.9 pts 56.2% 58.1% −5.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 2.0% ±0.8 pts 6.3% 13.3% +1.2 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic 2.4% ±0.8 pts 8.6% 5.9% no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 3.1% ±0.7 pts 3.3% 3.4% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.5 pts 0.6% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 10.5% ±1.6 pts 19.8% 14.7% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 17.2% ±3.0 pts 31.4% 24.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 3.1% ±0.6 pts 4.7% 4.8% –
With a disability 8.9% ±1.3 pts 9.8% 12.1% –
No health insurance coverage 2.1% ±0.8 pts 6.9% 6.9% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 97.2% ±1.0 pts 90.6% 90.5% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 76.9% ±2.2 pts 47.7% 37.8% +3.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 39.1% ±3.3 pts 20.1% 15.3% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 87.5% ±2.7 pts 88.4% 88.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 2.9% ±1.3 pts 2.9% 1.6% –

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 Highland Park earn?

Half of Highland Park's 11,787 households earn less than $168,094 a year (±$17,851), against $110,416 in Lake County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $184,935 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Highland ParkLake CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $168,094 ±$17,851 $110,416 $83,390 no clear change
Mean household income $250,788 ±$18,318 $155,726 $115,638 –
Per capita income $98,275 ±$7,233 $57,153 $46,406 −$13,031
People below the poverty line 4.2% ±1.2 pts 8.3% 11.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 3.2% ±1.9 pts 11.5% 15.1% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 2.2% ±1.0 pts 9.4% 13.8% –
Households with a computer 96.7% ±2.5 pts 97.2% 95.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 94.2% ±2.4 pts 94.3% 90.8% –

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 Highland Park?

Owners occupy 83.8% of Highland Park's occupied homes and renters 16.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $607,300 by its owner (±$40,019). The median renter pays $1,925 a month including utilities, and 52.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Highland ParkLake CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $607,300 ±$40,019 $345,700 $263,300 −$112,041
Median gross rent $1,925 ±$124 $1,477 $1,274 −$234
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 52.1% ±8.3 pts 40.1% 39.0% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $3,479 ±$286 $2,503 $1,987 –
Owner-occupied homes 83.8% ±2.4 pts 74.8% 67.1% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 16.2% ±2.4 pts 25.2% 32.9% –
Housing units 12,488 ±439 270,618 5,457,452 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.6% ±0.7 pts 0.9% 1.0% –
Rental vacancy rate 5.9% ±5.6 pts 3.7% 5.0% –
Single-family detached homes 73.6% ±2.6 pts 66.6% 58.2% –
Mobile homes 0.0% ±0.3 pts 1.6% 2.3% –
Built 2020 or later 1.3% ±0.6 pts 0.6% 0.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 3.3% ±1.1 pts 4.9% 5.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 23.9% ±4.1 pts 8.4% 20.2% –
Households with no vehicle 2.7% ±0.9 pts 4.6% 11.0% –

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 Highland Park building?

Builders took permits for 106 new housing units in Highland Park in 2025 (23 in single-family houses), 3.4 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.

  • 2019 57 units
  • 2020 (1 months) 77 units
  • 2021 95 units
  • 2022 107 units
  • 2023 87 units
  • 2024 91 units
  • 2025 106 units

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 Highland Park work and get to work?

61.1% of Highland Park's workers drive alone and 26.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Highland ParkLake CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 65.0% ±2.5 pts 68.2% 65.0% –
Unemployment rate 3.2% ±1.1 pts 5.2% 5.8% no clear change
Drove alone to work 61.1% ±3.5 pts 65.7% 65.9% –
Carpooled 2.8% ±0.8 pts 8.5% 7.8% –
Public transportation 5.6% ±1.4 pts 2.7% 5.8% –
Walked 2.3% ±0.9 pts 2.1% 2.8% –
Worked from home 26.5% ±2.9 pts 19.5% 15.9% +16.3 pts
Mean travel time to work 27.5 min ±2.3 28.5 min 27.8 min −3.6 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 Highland Park?

9 census tracts lie mostly in Highland Park, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $105,250 (Tract 8655.01) to $250,000 or more (Tract 8658.02).

Census tracts in Highland Park, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Highland Park
Tract 8657Lake County6,204 $250,000 or more $589,600100%
Tract 8654Lake County4,232 $106,929 $456,200100%
Tract 8656Lake County3,525 $246,250 $881,90098%
Tract 8658.01Lake County3,255 $153,458 $434,100100%
Tract 8653Lake County3,318 $219,076 $614,80094%
Tract 8647Lake County2,808 $220,156 $836,000100%
Tract 8655.02Lake County2,393 $161,488 $781,00098%
Tract 8655.01Lake County2,933 $105,250 $585,60077%
Tract 8658.02Lake County2,977 $250,000 or more $732,30051%
Tract 8652Lake County5,541 $105,637 $411,40015%

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 Highland Park) · Census block assignment files

How does Highland Park compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Highland Park is the 1,335th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 64th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.

Highland Park ranks 34th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Highland Park's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate64th1,294
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)135th1,347
Residents per square mile209th1,383
Median household income34th1,380
Per capita income21st1,383
Median home value34th1,379
Median gross rent51st1,280
Poverty rate1,014th1,119
Bachelor's degree or higher17th1,369
Median age309th1,383
Owner-occupied share407th1,382
Work from home55th1,015
Travel time to work510th1,382

Highland Park's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Highland Park 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 Highland Park?

6 of the 57 figures for Highland Park 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 Highland Park 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 Highland Park.