What Does the Census Tell Us About Metropolitan Chicago?

May 01, 2011
  • Description

This publication examines key trends in population shifts across the metro Chicago region (defined as Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties). Among the report highlights are the following:

  1. Metropolitan Chicago is home to 8.4 million persons, and the area grew by 3.5 percent between 2000 and 2010.
  2. The Metro population is shifting westward
  3. Some of the major racial communities are falling in numbers while others grow.
  4. Poverty becomes more regionalized.
  5. Immigration has slowed.
  6. Sharp demographic differences mark the generations.
  7. Education levels improve but disparities exist.