Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Cahokia Heights, IL had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 225 cities in 2022, at 41.2%. River Forest, IL had the lowest, at 1.2%. The median was 8.7% and the figure for Illinois was 11.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest41.2Cahokia Heights, IL

Lowest1.2River Forest, IL

Median8.7225 cities

Illinois11.8History

Top 40 cities, 2022

%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2022 (%)	Change on 2021
1	Cahokia Heights, IL	41.2	n/a
2	Carbondale, IL	37.9	-2.6 pts
3	East St. Louis, IL	31.6	+2.3 pts
4	Riverdale, IL	31.4	+1.3 pts
5	Kankakee, IL	28.7	+0.4 pts
6	Macomb, IL	27.7	+1 pts
7	Urbana, IL	27.7	+0.6 pts
8	DeKalb, IL	26.6	-0.2 pts
9	Charleston, IL	26.5	-0.2 pts
10	Danville, IL	25.4	-3.1 pts
11	Alton, IL	24.5	+0.2 pts
12	Harvey, IL	24.3	-4.3 pts
13	Champaign, IL	23.6	+0.1 pts
14	Centralia, IL	23.4	-0.3 pts
15	Normal, IL	23.4	-2.2 pts
16	Chicago Heights, IL	23.3	+0.5 pts
17	Markham, IL	23.2	+2.2 pts
18	Hazel Crest, IL	22.7	+4.7 pts
19	Rock Island, IL	22.7	+1 pts
20	Rockford, IL	22.2	+0.2 pts
21	Streator, IL	22	-0.1 pts
22	North Chicago, IL	21.9	+0.5 pts
23	Justice, IL	21.9	-1.7 pts
24	Calumet City, IL	21.3	-0.2 pts
25	Mattoon, IL	21.1	-1.4 pts
26	Galesburg, IL	20.6	+0.8 pts
27	Rantoul, IL	20.5	+1.2 pts
28	Dolton, IL	20.2	+0.6 pts
29	Kewanee, IL	20	-0.9 pts
30	Peoria, IL	19.5	-0.2 pts
31	Wood River, IL	19.5	+3.1 pts
32	Decatur, IL	19.5	-0.2 pts
33	Mount Vernon, IL	19.1	-1.9 pts
34	Dixon, IL	18.7	+1.9 pts
35	Blue Island, IL	18.7	+0.3 pts
36	Granite City, IL	18.6	+0.6 pts
37	Freeport, IL	18.6	-1.8 pts
38	Ottawa, IL	18.3	+2.7 pts
39	Jacksonville, IL	17.7	-0.2 pts
40	Chicago Ridge, IL	17.6	-2.5 pts
41	Worth, IL	17.5	+1.5 pts
42	Park Forest, IL	17.3	+2.3 pts
43	Chicago, IL	16.9	-0.2 pts
44	Springfield, IL	16.8	-1.7 pts
45	Lansing, IL	16.5	+1.1 pts
46	Effingham, IL	16.4	-1.3 pts
47	Taylorville, IL	16.2	+1.8 pts
48	Bridgeview, IL	15.6	+0.7 pts
49	Moline, IL	15.5	+0.3 pts
50	Loves Park, IL	15.3	+2.1 pts
51	Maywood, IL	15.3	+0.5 pts
52	East Moline, IL	15.1	+1.1 pts
53	Sterling, IL	15.1	-0.1 pts
54	Marion, IL	15	-2.4 pts
55	Waukegan, IL	15	-0.1 pts
56	Quincy, IL	15	+0.6 pts
57	Canton, IL	15	-2.3 pts
58	Lincoln, IL	14.9	+0.7 pts
59	Pekin, IL	14.8	-0.2 pts
60	Belleville, IL	14.8	+0.1 pts
61	Hanover Park, IL	14.7	+0.7 pts
62	Franklin Park, IL	14.6	+1.9 pts
63	Zion, IL	14.5	-0.4 pts
64	Edwardsville, IL	14.5	+0.2 pts
65	Belvidere, IL	14.5	0 pts
66	South Holland, IL	14.1	+0.5 pts
67	Fox Lake, IL	13.9	+0.8 pts
68	Summit, IL	13.4	-0.4 pts
69	Cicero, IL	13.1	-0.5 pts
70	Collinsville, IL	13	0 pts
71	Herrin, IL	12.9	-1.2 pts
72	Bradley, IL	12.2	+3 pts
73	West Chicago, IL	12.1	+0.8 pts
74	Bloomington, IL	12	-1.5 pts
75	Beach Park, IL	12	+4.1 pts
76	Crestwood, IL	11.7	+1.9 pts
77	Bellwood, IL	11.6	+1.4 pts
78	Evanston, IL	11.6	-0.3 pts
79	Burbank, IL	11.4	+0.3 pts
80	Forest Park, IL	11.4	+0.9 pts
81	Bourbonnais, IL	11.3	+3 pts
82	Westmont, IL	11.2	-0.3 pts
83	Crest Hill, IL	11.1	+0.6 pts
84	Berwyn, IL	11	-0.6 pts
85	Machesney Park, IL	11	+0.3 pts
86	Matteson, IL	10.9	-1.9 pts
87	Midlothian, IL	10.9	-1 pts
88	Joliet, IL	10.8	0 pts
89	Oak Lawn, IL	10.8	+0.6 pts
90	Melrose Park, IL	10.7	-2.1 pts
91	Round Lake, IL	10.7	+2.1 pts
92	Northlake, IL	10.6	-1.4 pts
93	Alsip, IL	10.6	+2.3 pts
94	Palatine, IL	10.5	-0.6 pts
95	Round Lake Beach, IL	10.5	+2.8 pts
96	Palos Hills, IL	10.2	+0.1 pts
97	Aurora, IL	10.2	-0.2 pts
98	Pontiac, IL	10.1	-4.6 pts
99	River Grove, IL	10	-0.8 pts
100	Elgin, IL	10	+0.5 pts
101	Richton Park, IL	9.7	-1.1 pts
102	Fairview Heights, IL	9.5	+0.7 pts
103	Montgomery, IL	9.5	-0.2 pts
104	Country Club Hills, IL	9.4	-1.1 pts
105	Carpentersville, IL	9.3	-1.7 pts
106	East Peoria, IL	9.3	-1.3 pts
106	Streamwood, IL	9.3	+1.5 pts
108	Addison, IL	8.9	-2.7 pts
109	Bensenville, IL	8.9	0 pts
110	Antioch, IL	8.7	-0.1 pts
110	Glendale Heights, IL	8.7	-0.9 pts
110	Woodstock, IL	8.7	-0.1 pts
113	Skokie, IL	8.7	-0.5 pts
114	Plano, IL	8.7	+0.2 pts
115	Hickory Hills, IL	8.6	-1 pts
116	Warrenville, IL	8.6	+0.5 pts
117	Homewood, IL	8.5	-0.2 pts
118	Wheeling, IL	8.4	-0.6 pts
119	Prospect Heights, IL	8.2	-0.4 pts
120	Schiller Park, IL	8	-2.9 pts
121	Bolingbrook, IL	7.9	-0 pts
122	Mundelein, IL	7.9	+0.5 pts
123	Carol Stream, IL	7.8	+0.5 pts
124	Sycamore, IL	7.8	-1.7 pts
125	Niles, IL	7.7	-0.2 pts
126	Des Plaines, IL	7.4	-0.6 pts
127	Glen Carbon, IL	7.4	-0.2 pts
128	Huntley, IL	7.4	+1.5 pts
129	Lyons, IL	7.4	-1.2 pts
130	Bloomingdale, IL	7.1	-0.2 pts
131	Lombard, IL	7.1	+0.5 pts
132	Morton Grove, IL	7.1	-0.3 pts
133	Oak Park, IL	6.9	+0.2 pts
134	Grayslake, IL	6.8	+0.5 pts
135	Swansea, IL	6.7	-0.6 pts
136	Godfrey, IL	6.7	+0.7 pts
137	Morton, IL	6.7	+1 pts
138	Elmwood Park, IL	6.6	+1.1 pts
139	Rolling Meadows, IL	6.4	+0.1 pts
140	Lockport, IL	6.3	-0.8 pts
141	Schaumburg, IL	6.2	+0.2 pts
142	Buffalo Grove, IL	6.2	+1 pts
143	Shiloh, IL	6.1	-3.4 pts
144	North Aurora, IL	5.9	-0.5 pts
145	Romeoville, IL	5.9	-0.7 pts
146	Lisle, IL	5.8	-0.1 pts
147	Wauconda, IL	5.8	+1.7 pts
148	Evergreen Park, IL	5.8	+0.3 pts
149	Arlington Heights, IL	5.7	+1 pts
150	South Elgin, IL	5.7	-0.2 pts
151	Morris, IL	5.7	-2.7 pts
152	Glen Ellyn, IL	5.7	+0.6 pts
153	Wheaton, IL	5.6	+0.3 pts
154	Lincolnwood, IL	5.4	-0.5 pts
155	Orland Park, IL	5.4	+0.4 pts
156	Elk Grove Village, IL	5.4	-0.1 pts
157	Washington, IL	5.3	+0.4 pts
158	Crystal Lake, IL	5.3	-0.5 pts
159	Barrington, IL	5.2	0 pts
160	Brookfield, IL	5.2	-1 pts
160	Downers Grove, IL	5.2	-0 pts
162	Wood Dale, IL	5.1	-0.1 pts
163	Glenview, IL	5.1	-0.3 pts
163	Tinley Park, IL	5.1	-0.3 pts
165	Waterloo, IL	5	+2.2 pts
166	Mount Prospect, IL	5	+0.3 pts
167	Batavia, IL	4.9	+0.1 pts
167	Villa Park, IL	4.9	-0.9 pts
169	Palos Heights, IL	4.9	-1.8 pts
170	Woodridge, IL	4.8	+0.3 pts
171	Hoffman Estates, IL	4.8	-0.4 pts
172	Roscoe, IL	4.8	+1.2 pts
173	Troy, IL	4.8	-2 pts
174	Mokena, IL	4.5	-0.4 pts
175	Vernon Hills, IL	4.5	-1.1 pts
176	Pingree Grove, IL	4.5	-1.9 pts
177	Cary, IL	4.5	+1.4 pts
178	Columbia, IL	4.5	-0.3 pts
179	La Grange, IL	4.4	+0.6 pts
180	Algonquin, IL	4.4	-0.4 pts
181	Naperville, IL	4.3	+0.4 pts
182	Park Ridge, IL	4.3	+0.3 pts
182	St. Charles, IL	4.3	+0.8 pts
184	Gurnee, IL	4.3	-0.5 pts
185	Manhattan, IL	4.3	+0.8 pts
186	Channahon, IL	4.1	+0.3 pts
187	Lindenhurst, IL	4.1	-0.5 pts
188	Lake Forest, IL	4	+0.9 pts
189	McHenry, IL	4	-4 pts
190	Chatham, IL	3.9	-0.4 pts
191	La Grange Park, IL	3.8	-1.7 pts
191	Oak Forest, IL	3.8	-1 pts
193	Norridge, IL	3.8	+0.7 pts
194	Elmhurst, IL	3.7	-0.4 pts
194	Northbrook, IL	3.7	+0.2 pts
196	Lake in the Hills, IL	3.7	+0.5 pts
197	Homer Glen, IL	3.6	+0.2 pts
198	Campton Hills, IL	3.5	+1.2 pts
199	Darien, IL	3.4	-1.4 pts
200	Highland Park, IL	3.4	+0.2 pts
201	Westchester, IL	3.4	+0.1 pts
202	Shorewood, IL	3.4	+0.4 pts
203	Burr Ridge, IL	3.4	-1.5 pts
204	Highland, IL	3.4	-5.6 pts
205	O'Fallon, IL	3.3	-1.5 pts
206	Roselle, IL	3.2	-0.2 pts
207	Minooka, IL	3.2	+0.1 pts
208	Yorkville, IL	3.2	+0.5 pts
209	Libertyville, IL	3.1	+0.3 pts
210	Lake Zurich, IL	3.1	-0.7 pts
211	Frankfort, IL	3	+0.8 pts
212	Wilmette, IL	2.9	+0.2 pts
213	Deerfield, IL	2.7	-0.7 pts
214	Mahomet, IL	2.6	+0.6 pts
215	Geneva, IL	2.6	+0.2 pts
215	Western Springs, IL	2.6	+0.2 pts
217	Lemont, IL	2.5	-2.1 pts
218	Bartlett, IL	2.4	-1.1 pts
219	Plainfield, IL	2.3	-0 pts
220	New Lenox, IL	2	-0.5 pts
220	Oswego, IL	2	-0.1 pts
222	Winnetka, IL	1.9	-0.2 pts
223	Winfield, IL	1.5	-0.3 pts
224	Hinsdale, IL	1.4	-0.2 pts
225	River Forest, IL	1.2	+0.1 pts

Other periods

2024
2023
2022
2021

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/illinois-cities?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/illinois-cities?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/illinois-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_illinois_by_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/illinois-cities?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/illinois-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/illinois-cities?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Rank Cities in Illinois by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.

rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"Illinois","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Cahokia Heights, IL, with 41.2% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

River Forest, IL, with 1.2% in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.