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.

Carol Stream, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

39,460

Median Agei

40.4

Race & Ethnicityi

White

50.1%19,782

Asian

19.3%7,618

Hispanic/Latino

18.5%7,281

Black

6.3%2,501

Two or More

4.9%1,944

Other

0.4%144

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%105

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%85

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.7%481

High School Diploma

19%5,276

Some College (<1 yr)

6%1,654

Some College (1+ yr)

12.4%3,442

Associate's Degree

7.9%2,177

Bachelor's Degree

29.3%8,129

Master's Degree

11.3%3,120

Professional Degree

1.4%385

Doctorate

0.8%219

HS or Higher

89.8%

BA or Higher

42.8%

Graduate+

13.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$335,000

Median Renti

$1,529

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

67.3%9,744

Renter-Occupied

32.7%4,743

Total Units

15,052

Homeownership

67.3%

Vacancy Rate

3.8%

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$102,309

Mean Household Incomei

$123,606

Per Capita Incomei

$45,625

Poverty Ratei

6.4%

Unemploymenti

3.9%

Labor Forcei

22,211

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.2%458

$10K–$15K

2.6%372

$15K–$20K

1.1%162

$20K–$25K

1.5%216

$25K–$30K

2.1%307

$30K–$35K

3%441

$35K–$40K

1.4%205

$40K–$45K

2.1%298

$45K–$50K

4.3%626

$50K–$60K

5.9%859

$60K–$75K

7.5%1,090

$75K–$100K

14%2,022

$100K–$125K

11.3%1,639

$125K–$150K

10%1,447

$150K–$200K

13.1%1,893

$200K+

16.9%2,452

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

800

Residentsi

991

Avg. Tenant Renti

$478/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

29 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers312 homes84% occupied$487/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8280 homes73% occupied$467/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

S236/BMIR42 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $102,309/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $31K/yr

71.9%

Very low income$31K–$51K/yr

24.1%

Low income$51K–$82K/yr

3.5%

Moderate / aboveOver $82K/yr

0.5%

Who Receives This Housing

66.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

47.2% of subsidized households are minority

17.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

65.9% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,008(3.2% of civilian adults)