Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Dolton, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAChicago-Naperville MSAChicago-Naperville-Elgin#90/303 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

20,825

Median Agei

40.3

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

89.7%18,687

White

5.1%1,070

Two or More

2.7%566

Hispanic/Latino

1.9%386

Other

0.3%60

Asian

0.2%46

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%9

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%1

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.9%408

High School Diploma

29.2%4,076

Some College (<1 yr)

7.9%1,109

Some College (1+ yr)

22.2%3,095

Associate's Degree

8.9%1,245

Bachelor's Degree

15.5%2,164

Master's Degree

5.9%824

Professional Degree

1%137

Doctorate

0.3%48

HS or Higher

93.9%

BA or Higher

22.7%

Graduate+

7.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$151,300

Median Renti

$1,384

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

72.6%5,677

Renter-Occupied

27.4%2,143

Total Units

8,838

Homeownership

72.6%

Vacancy Rate

11.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

5%282

$50K–$100K

18%1,020

$100K–$150K

25.9%1,470

$150K–$200K

33.6%1,910

$200K–$300K

14.7%833

$300K–$500K

2.6%150

$500K–$1M

0.1%5

$1M+

0.1%7

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

182

$750–$1,000

244

$1,000–$1,250

298

$1,250–$1,500

518

$1,500–$2,000

450

$2,000+

375

Year Built

2020 or later

0.1%6

2010–2019

0.1%12

2000–2009

1.2%102

1990–1999

5.6%498

1980–1989

7.1%626

1970–1979

20.9%1,850

1960–1969

28.6%2,531

1950–1959

27.1%2,399

1940–1949

5.2%456

1939 or earlier

4.1%358

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

86.1%6,731

Electricity

13.5%1,052

Bottled/LP Gas

0.3%26

No Fuel

0.1%11

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$57,887

Mean Household Incomei

$70,409

Per Capita Incomei

$27,432

Poverty Ratei

21.2%

Unemploymenti

12.7%

Labor Forcei

9,319

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

10.7%840

$10K–$15K

5.4%426

$15K–$20K

2.1%168

$20K–$25K

4.3%335

$25K–$30K

5.8%452

$30K–$35K

5.8%451

$35K–$40K

3.2%253

$40K–$45K

2%156

$45K–$50K

4.9%384

$50K–$60K

7.5%587

$60K–$75K

11%860

$75K–$100K

15%1,170

$100K–$125K

7.6%596

$125K–$150K

5.9%461

$150K–$200K

5.6%441

$200K+

3.1%240

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,137

Residentsi

3,029

Avg. Tenant Renti

$510/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

67 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers1,024 homes93% occupied$521/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

202/PRAC98 homes97% occupied$391/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $57,887/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

80%

Very low income$17K–$29K/yr

16.3%

Low income$29K–$46K/yr

3.7%

Who Receives This Housing

89.6% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

98.5% of subsidized households are minority

17.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

22.4% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,962

Avg. Commutei

30.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

8,084

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

731(4.7% of civilian adults)