Melrose Park, Cook County, Illinois Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Melrose Park, Illinois, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Melrose Park, Illinois. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Melrose Park, Illinois. The estimated population of Melrose Park, Illinois is 25,417 people, with a median age of 33.9.

We can look at the total population in Melrose Park over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
25,417
+0.05%
-0.12%
2020
25,404
-0.79% -
2019
25,605
+1.16%
-
2018
25,311
-0.53% -
2017
25,447
- -

Population of Melrose Park, Illinois by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
17.3%
19.7%
-12.18%
Black/African American
4.1%
5.4%
-24.07%
Native
0%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
78%
73.9%
+5.55%
Asian
0.4%
0.8%
-50.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.3%
0.3%
0.00%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Melrose Park, Illinois by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 33.9 +0.89% 34.6 +2.06% 33.1 -1.19%
2020 33.6 +1.51% 33.9 +6.27% 33.5 -0.89%
2019 33.1 -2.36% 31.9 +0.95% 33.8 -4.25%
2018 33.9 +3.04% 31.6 +3.27% 35.3 +1.15%
2017 32.9 - 30.6 - 34.9 -

The median age of Melrose Park, Illinois gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,542 -36.38% 1,675 +4.07% 1,696 1,726
10 to 19 2,082 -8.63% 1,706 +21.18% 1,900 2,095
20 to 29 1,774 +24.82% 1,783 0.64% 2,219 1,743
30 to 39 2,107 -8.52% 2,036 -16.72% 1,925 1,704
40 to 49 1,970 +14.01% 1,685 -1.61% 2,233 1,640
50 to 59 1,306 +6.78% 1,076 +18.19% 1,383 1,283
60 to 69 897 +31.62% 1,012 -7.56% 1,215 926
70+ 564 +20.95% 1,232 -14.09% 689 1,040

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Melrose Park, Illinois is $58,871.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Melrose Park.

  • Under 25
    $41,949.00
  • 25 to 44
    $58,636.00
  • 45 to 64
    $67,021.00
  • 65 and over
    $47,050.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Melrose Park, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Melrose Park, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Melrose Park, Illinois is currently $75,985.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.94% of households in Melrose Park are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Melrose Park against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    12.88%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.73%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    24.27%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.08%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.92%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.18%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.94%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Melrose Park is $24,483.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Melrose Park by the total population of Melrose Park.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Melrose Park, Illinois, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Melrose Park to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    5.62%
  • Bachelor's degree
    17.33%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.39%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    60.23%
  • Less than high school diploma
    5.42%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Melrose Park that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Melrose Park over the age of 16 is 19,605.

Of those people, a total of 66.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Melrose Park is 62.10%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,605 31.30% 28.80%
20 to 24 years 1,793 62.60% 10.20%
25 to 29 years 2,169 81.10% 4.70%
30 to 34 years 1,787 80.40% 1.90%
35 to 44 years 3,560 86.30% 3.20%
45 to 54 years 3,286 75.90% 6.70%
55 to 59 years 1,535 71.40% 2.60%
60 to 64 years 1,403 64.60% 7.20%
65 to 74 years 1,398 33.20% 2.20%
75 years and over 1,069 10.20% 29.40%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Melrose Park. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 8,891 64.90% 6.10%
Black or African American 760 50.80% 23.10%
American Indian and Alaska Native 126 77.00% 0.00%
Asian 98 52.00% 15.70%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 6,223 71.50% 4.00%
Two or more races 3,507 62.90% 6.80%
Hispanic or Latino 14,747 68.10% 4.30%
Not Hispanic or Latino 3,973 62.00% 9.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Melrose Park as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Melrose Park is 12,177, with median earnings of $34,336.00.

Women in Melrose Park, Illinois earning approximately 77.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 12,177 $34,336.00
Male 7,243 $39,297.00
Female 4,934 $30,357.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 517 $59,196.00
Business and Financial 356 $68,382.00
Computer and Mathematical 130 $47,000.00
Architecture and Engineering 77 $92,563.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 68 $53,023.00
Community and Social Service 105 $25,583.00
Legal 35 $0.00
Educational and Library 312 $36,618.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 139 $43,516.00
Healthcare Practitioners 225 $52,852.00
Healthcare Support 451 $29,848.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 161 $86,635.00
Law Enforcement 224 $81,750.00
Food Preparation and Serving 766 $26,324.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 727 $32,182.00
Personal Care and Service 116 $14,839.00
Sales 933 $30,665.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,653 $33,572.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 41 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 1,115 $37,033.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 551 $40,439.00
Production 1,624 $31,120.00
Transportation and Material Moving 713 $46,438.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 253 $57,589.00 264 $65,375.00
Business and Financial 182 $73,889.00 174 $58,779.00
Computer and Mathematical 130 $47,000.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 77 $92,563.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 16 $0.00 52 $0.00
Community and Social Service 91 $25,250.00 14 $44,167.00
Legal 10 $0.00 25 $0.00
Educational and Library 64 $55,962.00 248 $36,250.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 52 $16,310.00 87 $57,614.00
Healthcare Practitioners 43 $250,001.00 182 $49,643.00
Healthcare Support 78 $32,841.00 373 $24,966.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 123 $110,054.00 38 $25,000.00
Law Enforcement 188 $82,188.00 36 $26,250.00
Food Preparation and Serving 411 $28,184.00 355 $22,578.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 494 $31,709.00 233 $33,450.00
Personal Care and Service 16 $0.00 100 $21,500.00
Sales 371 $78,843.00 562 $17,015.00
Office and Administrative Support 350 $39,500.00 1,303 $32,046.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 41 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 1,095 $37,285.00 20 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 551 $40,439.00 0 $0.00
Production 1,061 $43,622.00 563 $22,482.00
Transportation and Material Moving 681 $46,868.00 32 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 7,949 households in Melrose Park, with an average household size of 3.18 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 5,617 families in Melrose Park with an average family size of 3.84 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 3,526 998 1,093 2,332
Average Household Size 4 3.61 4.25 1.26
Total Families 3,526 998 1,093 0
Average Household Size 3.99 3.26 3.85 0

Poverty

Of the 5,617 families in Melrose Park, 9.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Melrose Park:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 8,578 housing units in Melrose Park, Illinois.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 7,949 92.67%
Vacant 629 7.33%

41.69% of the total 8,578 housing units in Melrose Park are rental units. This is approximately 3,576 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,259 are occupied by the owner - or 49.65% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Melrose Park is $1,132.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Melrose Park that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    114
  • Less than $500
    34
  • $500 to $999
    1,101
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    1,916
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    499
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    26
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Melrose Park is $222,700.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Melrose Park that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    434
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    190
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    266
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    912
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,447
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    963
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    10
  • $1,000,000 or more
    37

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Melrose Park. The chart below shows the number of properties in Melrose Park that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,914
  • 1940 to 1949
    706
  • 1950 to 1959
    2,520
  • 1960 to 1969
    852
  • 1970 to 1979
    910
  • 1980 to 1989
    613
  • 1990 to 1999
    479
  • 2000 to 2009
    564
  • 2010 to 2013
    20
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Melrose Park that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    470
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,973
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,611
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,895

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Melrose Park get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Melrose Park that commute to work in a particular way.

25.9 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Melrose Park.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    384
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,398
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,327
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,101
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,809
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    738
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,844
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    467
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    459
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    968
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    850
  • 90 or more minutes
    184

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Melrose Park, Illinois in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.