Census ACS · #3 MSA
Chicago Metro Area
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Il-In Metropolitan Statistical Area has 9,359,555 residents across 2 states. The median household income is $88,850 and the median home value is $301,900.
9,359,555
Population
1352
People / sq mi
$88,850
Median Income
$301,900
Median Home Value
The Chicago CBSA covers 6,923 sq mi of land at 1351.9 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 55.7% |
| Black or African American | 16.2% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.6% |
Economy & Income
$88,850
Median Household Income
$48,107
Per Capita Income
8.0%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Chicago metro's price level is 103.6 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 3.6% higher the US average. The local median income of $88,850 has the buying power of $85,767 in average-priced US metros.
103.6
Price Level (US = 100)
$85,767
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$88,850
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$301,900
Median Home Value
$1,378
Median Rent
65.3%
Homeownership
Education
89.7%
High School+
40.9%
Bachelor's+
Commute
8.2%
Drive Alone
15.6%
Work From Home
30.7 min
Avg Commute
17.2%
Foreign Born
Chicago spans these states
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Illinois
Largest counties in Illinois
Part of Illinois
Other metros
Metro areas in Illinois
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Il-In Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 9,359,555 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #3 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Chicago metro area is $88,850, with a per capita income of $48,107.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Il-In CBSA spans 2 states: Illinois, Indiana.
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More from Illinois
Data for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Il-In CBSA (16980) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Chicago stands apart on settlement density — it is among the most densely settled of US metro areas, at roughly 1,352 people per square mile. Chicago is a metro area in IL, IN with a population of 9,359,555.
Earnings sit at the high end: a median household income of $88,850, above the US median of $78,538. About 8.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level, below the national 12.4%. A typical home is worth $301,900, with typical rent around $1,378.
Degree attainment is near the top of the range for US metro areas: 40.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s, above the 35.0% national rate.
That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Chicago: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.