City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

University Park, IL

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

7,109
Residents
$65,580
Median income
$137,800
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

University Park - the verdict

Nationally, University Park sits in the 44th percentile for household income and the 31st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

44th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
31st
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: University Park, IL

University Park is a small town in Illinois, home to 7,109 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in University Park brings in $65,580 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.8%. Typical homes in University Park are valued around $137,800, and the median resident age is 32.4 years. Educational attainment runs 24.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity). Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2025.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,781 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 97.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

7,109 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$65,580 /yr

Poverty 11.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does University Park compare to other US cities?

Where University Park sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 31% 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, University Park ranks #364 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

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

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places University Park toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, University Park ranks #17 - the 77th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares University Park only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#696 of 1,311
47th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#554 of 1,315
58th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#368 of 1,335
72nd percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#424 of 1,336
68th 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.

44thIncome percentile
31stSafety percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income · 31st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

University Park's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

University Park'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 43 Avg. percentile National median
University Park'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 University Park's home value compares nationally

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

$137,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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. University Park $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 - University Park, IL University Park, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not University Park, 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 University Park, IL median $65,580/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%
University Park, 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 University Park, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.5%

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

Population
7,109
Median Income
$65,580
Median Home Value
$137,800
Median Age
32.4
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Labor force participation
55.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2025.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
301.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1724.1
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
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,000 residents7,050 residents7,100 residents7,150 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,131 residents 7,019 residents ▼ -1.6%
University Park's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.8%
Carpool
7.7%
Public Transit
4.7%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
6.9%
Other
8.7%

Based on 2,753 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 University Park 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
97.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Sandwich
7,121 people
Marengo
7,123 people
Benton
7,076 people
West Frankfort
7,156 people
Greenville
7,159 people
Clinton
7,012 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to University Park's 7,109 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sturgis, SD
7,111 people
Hudson, NH
7,105 people
Ridgefield, CT
7,103 people
Porters Neck, NC
7,102 people
Heber Springs, AR
7,101 people
Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH
7,117 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to University Park's $65,580 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

River Oaks, TX
$65,582 median income
Jacksboro, TN
$65,587 median income
Wilsall, MT
$65,588 median income
Minot AFB, ND
$65,571 median income
Fountainebleau, FL
$65,568 median income
Jamestown, LA
$65,568 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - University Park, 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 University Park, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 10.0% 84.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.3% White 10.0% Black or African American 84.8% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 3.9% 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 University Park 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
University Park (this city) 7,109 $65,580
Sandwich 7,121 $77,027
Marengo 7,123 $72,586
Benton 7,076 $51,349
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about University Park, IL?

What is the population of University Park, IL? +

The population of University Park, IL stands at 7,109 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in University Park, IL? +

The median household income in University Park is $65,580 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in University Park? +

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

University Park has a total crime rate of 2025.8 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 University Park, IL? +

A typical home in University Park is worth $137,800, 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

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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.