City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

North Chicago, IL

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

30,772
Residents
$56,815
Median income
$147,800
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

North Chicago - the verdict

Nationally, North Chicago sits in the 30th percentile for household income and the 75th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

30th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
75th
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: North Chicago, IL

North Chicago is a small city in Illinois, home to 30,772 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $56,815 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.8%. Home values in North Chicago run a median of $147,800, and the median resident age is 23.6 years. About 19.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 37.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 10 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 43% from five years earlier. North Chicago reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 742.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than 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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,781 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

30,772 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$56,815 /yr

Poverty 17.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does North Chicago compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 75% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Illinois alone, North Chicago ranks #180 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below North Chicago's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

30thIncome percentile
75thSafety percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income · 75th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

North Chicago's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

North Chicago'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 52 Avg. percentile National median
North Chicago'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 North Chicago's home value compares nationally

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

$147,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $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. North Chicago $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 - North Chicago, IL North Chicago, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not North Chicago, 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 North Chicago, IL median $56,815/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%
North Chicago, 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 North Chicago, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 37.7%

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

Population
30,772
Median Income
$56,815
Median Home Value
$147,800
Median Age
23.6
Poverty Rate
17.8%
Labor force participation
37.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
742.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
178.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
564.0
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
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
30,000 residents32,000 residents34,000 residents36,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 30,742 residents 34,050 residents ▲ +10.8%
North Chicago's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 6
2021 4
2022 5
2023 13
2024 10

Permit volume increased 43% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
45.3%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
1.4%
Walk
21.7%
Work from Home
20.0%
Other
1.9%

Based on 17,228 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 North Chicago 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
96.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Gurnee
30,486 people
Niles
30,262 people
Highland Park
30,229 people
Mundelein
31,632 people
Algonquin
29,904 people
Pekin
31,812 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to North Chicago's 30,772 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Westfield, NJ
30,760 people
La Verne, CA
30,804 people
Oakleaf Plantation, FL
30,737 people
Los Altos, CA
30,736 people
Miami Lakes, FL
30,731 people
Sanford, NC
30,833 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to North Chicago's $56,815 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Craigmont, ID
$56,818 median income
Martin, MI
$56,818 median income
Morongo Valley, CA
$56,821 median income
South Paris, ME
$56,823 median income
Country Squire Lakes, IN
$56,806 median income
Moulton, IA
$56,806 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - North Chicago, 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 North Chicago, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 39.5% 24.7% 13.6% 15.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 38.6% White 39.5% Black or African American 24.7% Asian 4.9% American Indian 1.9% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 13.6% Two or more races 15.3% 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 North Chicago 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
North Chicago (this city) 30,772 $56,815
Gurnee 30,486 $121,410
Niles 30,262 $78,563
Highland Park 30,229 $161,875
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about North Chicago, IL?

What is the population of North Chicago, IL? +

North Chicago, IL counts 30,772 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in North Chicago, IL? +

The median household income in North Chicago is $56,815 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in North Chicago? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for North Chicago; 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 North Chicago, IL safe? +

North Chicago has a total crime rate of 742.1 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 North Chicago, IL? +

The median home value in North Chicago is $147,800, 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 Editorial

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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.