Population
9,434,123
2025
−0.0% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area: population growth, jobs and income
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area gained 22,925 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.2%).
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area had an estimated 9,434,123 residents in 2025, down 0.0% (1,848 fewer people) since 2020.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now.
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−33,708
2025
−3.6 per 1,000 residents
−358,531 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.7%
2025
+0.8 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
15,778
2025
−12.7% since 2024
1.7 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$90,887
2020–24
+21.8% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
4,285,971
2023
+2.4% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
Net migration (IRS tax returns)
−47,153
2022–23
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022–23. People on tax returns moving in minus moving out, U.S. and abroad; the sum of the member counties (moves between them cancel out).
Population, migration, employment, permits, unemployment and income are the figures each agency publishes for the area itself (OMB Bulletin 23-01 delineation; ACS 2016-20 and CBP 2018 use the delineation of their year). IRS migration is the sum of the member counties.
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 33,708 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 4,285,971 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.4% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.7% in 2025, 0.8 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 15,778 new homes in 2025, or 1.7 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $90,887 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +21.8% since 2016–20.
Population growth over five years ranks 4th of 12 Illinois metro areas, 14th of 15 Indiana metro areas and 274th of 362 U.S. metro areas.
IRS tax-return data for 2022-2023 show a net loss of 47,153 people (the sum of its counties).
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How it ranks
| Measure | Among U.S. metro areas |
|---|---|
| Population growth | 274th of 362 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 303rd of 362 |
| Private-sector job growth | 203rd of 352 |
| Median household income | 50th of 362 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 269th of 362 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 296th of 362 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment), against areas with a figure for the same period.
Fastest-growing metro areas in Illinois · Fastest-growing metro areas in Indiana · Fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S.
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Counties in this metro area
Cook County, IL drove the change: of the 1,848 residents the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area lost from 2020 to 2025 (the sum of its counties), it lost 69,026, while Will County, IL gained 15,352 residents.
| County | Role | Residents2025 | Share of residents2025 | Change2020–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County, IL | Central | 5,194,625 | 55.1% | −69,026 (−1.3%) |
| DuPage County, IL | Central | 934,298 | 9.9% | +2,825 (+0.3%) |
| Lake County, IL | Central | 719,339 | 7.6% | +5,962 (+0.8%) |
| Will County, IL | Central | 712,253 | 7.5% | +15,352 (+2.2%) |
| Kane County, IL | Central | 525,757 | 5.6% | +9,393 (+1.8%) |
| Lake County, IN | Central | 504,612 | 5.3% | +5,669 (+1.1%) |
| McHenry County, IL | Central | 317,751 | 3.4% | +7,774 (+2.5%) |
| Porter County, IN | Central | 176,049 | 1.9% | +2,730 (+1.6%) |
| Kendall County, IL | Central | 145,470 | 1.5% | +13,106 (+9.9%) |
| DeKalb County, IL | Outlying | 101,835 | 1.1% | +1,469 (+1.5%) |
| Grundy County, IL | Outlying | 54,052 | 0.6% | +1,514 (+2.9%) |
| Jasper County, IN | Outlying | 33,894 | 0.4% | +983 (+3.0%) |
| Newton County, IN | Outlying | 14,188 | 0.2% | +401 (+2.9%) |
Census Bureau population estimates (July 1). Shares are of the member counties' total; a share of the change shows only when every county moved the same way. – means no figure for the common period.
Nearby and similar metro areas
Next to this metro area
Similar in size
Questions
Is the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area growing?
Its population was about flat between 2020 and 2025 (−0.0%; Census Bureau population estimates).
Which county in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is growing fastest?
Kendall County, IL. Its population grew 9.9% between 2020 and 2025, the fastest of the 13 member counties (Census Bureau population estimates).
How many people moved to the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area?
On net, none in 2025: about 33,708 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area?
It averaged 4.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area?
About 9,434,123 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
Cook County data alerts
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Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
- IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.