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.

Wheeling, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

38,433

Median Agei

39.9

Race & Ethnicityi

White

49.1%18,886

Hispanic/Latino

28.1%10,805

Asian

15.3%5,895

Black

3.8%1,462

Two or More

2.3%894

Other

0.8%318

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.5%173

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.8%780

High School Diploma

18.2%5,075

Some College (<1 yr)

4.3%1,206

Some College (1+ yr)

12.7%3,544

Associate's Degree

8.8%2,453

Bachelor's Degree

27.1%7,571

Master's Degree

11.1%3,112

Professional Degree

1.6%451

Doctorate

0.9%260

HS or Higher

87.5%

BA or Higher

40.8%

Graduate+

13.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$266,200

Median Renti

$1,663

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

62.7%9,508

Renter-Occupied

37.3%5,663

Total Units

16,045

Homeownership

62.7%

Vacancy Rate

5.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

7.6%719

$50K–$100K

1.5%146

$100K–$150K

7.4%705

$150K–$200K

10.6%1,004

$200K–$300K

31.7%3,010

$300K–$500K

35.1%3,336

$500K–$1M

6.1%576

$1M+

0.1%12

Rent Distribution

Under $500

226

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

657

$1,250–$1,500

1,239

$1,500–$2,000

1,892

$2,000+

1,539

Year Built

2020 or later

0.7%120

2010–2019

4.8%765

2000–2009

9.8%1,569

1990–1999

9.4%1,516

1980–1989

24.5%3,925

1970–1979

25.3%4,066

1960–1969

11.7%1,884

1950–1959

9.6%1,547

1940–1949

1.4%219

1939 or earlier

2.7%434

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

73.4%11,132

Electricity

23.8%3,613

Bottled/LP Gas

2.1%320

No Fuel

0.5%69

Fuel Oil

0.1%20

Other

0.1%17

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$85,205

Mean Household Incomei

$104,690

Per Capita Incomei

$41,499

Poverty Ratei

9.8%

Unemploymenti

4.8%

Labor Forcei

22,067

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.5%676

$10K–$15K

2.5%384

$15K–$20K

1.5%222

$20K–$25K

3%456

$25K–$30K

3%456

$30K–$35K

3%451

$35K–$40K

3.5%535

$40K–$45K

3.2%491

$45K–$50K

3.7%562

$50K–$60K

6.6%1,003

$60K–$75K

8.3%1,254

$75K–$100K

17%2,581

$100K–$125K

9.4%1,431

$125K–$150K

10%1,516

$150K–$200K

10.9%1,657

$200K+

9.9%1,496

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

240

Residentsi

365

Avg. Tenant Renti

$407/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

5 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing13 homes

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers223 homes93% occupied$407/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 84 homes

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $85,205/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $26K/yr

91%

Very low income$26K–$43K/yr

Low income$43K–$68K/yr

Who Receives This Housing

75% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

25% of subsidized households are minority

58% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

69% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

20,629

Avg. Commutei

25.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

20,950

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

717(2.4% of civilian adults)