Racial diversity in Illinois is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Illinois where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Illinois?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 330 cities in Illinois to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Illinois for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Illinois? According to the most Census data, Glendale Heights took the number one over all spot for diversity in Illinois.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Illinois ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Illinois reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Illinois For 2024
/10
Population: 33,088
HHI: 2,606
% White: 29.6%
% African American: 10.3%
% Hispanic: 33.3%
% Asian: 22.3%
More on Glendale Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 73,755
HHI: 2,717
% White: 38.5%
% African American: 17.7%
% Hispanic: 27.2%
% Asian: 13.0%
More on Bolingbrook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 2,721,914
HHI: 2,769
% White: 32.7%
% African American: 28.4%
% Hispanic: 29.0%
% Asian: 6.9%
More on Chicago: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 30,890
HHI: 2,802
% White: 29.5%
% African American: 24.4%
% Hispanic: 35.9%
% Asian: 5.2%
More on North Chicago: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 37,222
HHI: 2,942
% White: 31.9%
% African American: 7.7%
% Hispanic: 38.5%
% Asian: 19.4%
More on Hanover Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,570
HHI: 2,964
% White: 28.4%
% African American: 21.6%
% Hispanic: 40.7%
% Asian: 3.5%
More on Zion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 181,405
HHI: 3,128
% White: 33.3%
% African American: 10.3%
% Hispanic: 42.3%
% Asian: 10.7%
More on Aurora: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 39,556
HHI: 3,193
% White: 40.5%
% African American: 5.1%
% Hispanic: 36.3%
% Asian: 14.0%
More on Streamwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,677
HHI: 3,244
% White: 45.5%
% African American: 4.8%
% Hispanic: 30.1%
% Asian: 15.5%
More on Round Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,866
HHI: 3,289
% White: 45.6%
% African American: 23.0%
% Hispanic: 25.8%
% Asian: 1.9%
More on Alsip: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Illinois for 2024
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Illinois.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 330 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 2,606 (Glendale Heights) to 9,339 (West Frankfort).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Glendale Heights took the distinction of being the most diverse, while West Frankfort was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Illinois.
Summary: Diversity Across Illinois
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Illinois, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Illinois are Glendale Heights, Bolingbrook, Chicago, North Chicago, Hanover Park, Zion, Aurora, Streamwood, Round Lake, and Alsip.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Illinois:
- West Frankfort
- Litchfield
- Waterloo
For more Illinois reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Illinois
- Cheapest Places To Live In Illinois
- Most Dangerous Cities In Illinois
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Illinois
- Safest Places In Illinois
- Worst Places To Live In Illinois
Race By City In Illinois For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale Heights, IL | 33,088 | 2,606 | 29.6% | 10.3% | 33.3% | 22.3% |
| 2 | Bolingbrook, IL | 73,755 | 2,717 | 38.5% | 17.7% | 27.2% | 13.0% |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | 2,721,914 | 2,769 | 32.7% | 28.4% | 29.0% | 6.9% |
| 4 | North Chicago, IL | 30,890 | 2,802 | 29.5% | 24.4% | 35.9% | 5.2% |
| 5 | Hanover Park, IL | 37,222 | 2,942 | 31.9% | 7.7% | 38.5% | 19.4% |
| 6 | Zion, IL | 24,570 | 2,964 | 28.4% | 21.6% | 40.7% | 3.5% |
| 7 | Aurora, IL | 181,405 | 3,128 | 33.3% | 10.3% | 42.3% | 10.7% |
| 8 | Streamwood, IL | 39,556 | 3,193 | 40.5% | 5.1% | 36.3% | 14.0% |
| 9 | Round Lake, IL | 18,677 | 3,244 | 45.5% | 4.8% | 30.1% | 15.5% |
| 10 | Alsip, IL | 18,866 | 3,289 | 45.6% | 23.0% | 25.8% | 1.9% |
| 11 | Romeoville, IL | 40,132 | 3,297 | 43.4% | 11.0% | 35.2% | 6.7% |
| 12 | Skokie, IL | 67,076 | 3,308 | 49.0% | 8.9% | 11.1% | 26.3% |
| 13 | Chicago Heights, IL | 27,366 | 3,349 | 21.2% | 39.4% | 36.6% | 0.2% |
| 14 | Rantoul, IL | 12,544 | 3,357 | 49.9% | 22.5% | 14.5% | 0.7% |
| 15 | Kankakee, IL | 24,795 | 3,360 | 35.1% | 41.1% | 20.7% | 1.0% |
| 16 | Joliet, IL | 150,221 | 3,382 | 44.3% | 16.9% | 33.5% | 1.9% |
| 17 | Monee, IL | 5,120 | 3,393 | 47.2% | 28.0% | 19.0% | 2.5% |
| 18 | Lansing, IL | 28,713 | 3,394 | 27.8% | 47.2% | 19.4% | 2.3% |
| 19 | Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,744 | 3,398 | 49.3% | 4.9% | 18.0% | 24.6% |
| 20 | Midlothian, IL | 14,200 | 3,425 | 46.3% | 9.6% | 33.9% | 4.8% |
| 21 | Berkeley, IL | 5,283 | 3,452 | 25.4% | 25.0% | 46.7% | 1.7% |
| 22 | Waukegan, IL | 89,435 | 3,510 | 19.2% | 17.8% | 52.6% | 7.0% |
| 23 | Rockford, IL | 148,173 | 3,516 | 51.7% | 21.4% | 19.1% | 3.5% |
| 24 | Blue Island, IL | 22,934 | 3,523 | 20.4% | 33.2% | 44.8% | 0.4% |
| 25 | Crest Hill, IL | 19,886 | 3,552 | 51.0% | 21.0% | 22.3% | 2.1% |
| 26 | Carol Stream, IL | 39,656 | 3,584 | 53.8% | 6.8% | 16.3% | 19.1% |
| 27 | Beach Park, IL | 13,995 | 3,591 | 35.4% | 13.4% | 46.3% | 3.4% |
| 28 | Wheeling, IL | 38,823 | 3,595 | 48.1% | 1.1% | 31.8% | 16.4% |
| 29 | Hillside, IL | 8,213 | 3,673 | 18.2% | 48.7% | 31.1% | 1.4% |
| 30 | Justice, IL | 12,525 | 3,682 | 53.1% | 21.3% | 19.8% | 2.8% |
| 31 | West Chicago, IL | 25,632 | 3,719 | 35.4% | 3.1% | 48.5% | 10.0% |
| 32 | Elgin, IL | 114,190 | 3,726 | 37.6% | 5.1% | 47.3% | 6.0% |
| 33 | East Moline, IL | 20,937 | 3,732 | 55.2% | 16.9% | 19.2% | 3.4% |
| 34 | Urbana, IL | 38,741 | 3,733 | 56.1% | 16.8% | 8.4% | 14.7% |
| 35 | Forest Park, IL | 14,165 | 3,761 | 54.6% | 25.3% | 9.5% | 6.7% |
| 36 | Schaumburg, IL | 77,571 | 3,792 | 55.0% | 5.5% | 11.7% | 24.5% |
| 37 | Champaign, IL | 88,628 | 3,809 | 56.7% | 17.0% | 6.2% | 15.9% |
| 38 | Peoria, IL | 113,054 | 3,828 | 54.9% | 26.4% | 7.1% | 6.6% |
| 39 | Addison, IL | 35,685 | 3,833 | 45.5% | 3.4% | 40.9% | 8.9% |
| 40 | Rolling Meadows, IL | 24,054 | 3,862 | 54.6% | 3.2% | 26.7% | 12.2% |
| 41 | Fairview Heights, IL | 16,360 | 3,868 | 53.0% | 30.3% | 3.5% | 1.3% |
| 42 | Evergreen Park, IL | 19,730 | 3,880 | 55.8% | 22.6% | 15.5% | 2.4% |
| 43 | Evanston, IL | 77,181 | 3,896 | 58.4% | 16.1% | 11.3% | 9.2% |
| 44 | Mundelein, IL | 31,583 | 3,900 | 51.7% | 2.3% | 33.4% | 10.3% |
| 45 | Woodridge, IL | 34,027 | 3,913 | 58.2% | 10.8% | 15.7% | 12.3% |
| 46 | Steger, IL | 9,518 | 3,968 | 56.5% | 15.8% | 22.6% | 1.0% |
| 47 | Carpentersville, IL | 37,834 | 4,018 | 31.5% | 4.7% | 54.4% | 6.3% |
| 48 | Beardstown, IL | 5,884 | 4,019 | 49.8% | 6.4% | 38.6% | 1.6% |
| 49 | Crete, IL | 8,425 | 4,049 | 52.7% | 34.6% | 7.4% | 1.0% |
| 50 | Homewood, IL | 19,868 | 4,050 | 39.0% | 49.8% | 6.3% | 1.0% |
| 51 | Dekalb, IL | 40,697 | 4,060 | 59.5% | 14.5% | 16.1% | 4.7% |
| 52 | Bensenville, IL | 18,673 | 4,063 | 42.5% | 6.0% | 47.0% | 3.1% |
| 53 | Westchester, IL | 16,694 | 4,073 | 57.8% | 19.2% | 18.7% | 3.3% |
| 54 | Vernon Hills, IL | 26,750 | 4,083 | 57.2% | 1.6% | 11.9% | 25.5% |
| 55 | Carbondale, IL | 22,039 | 4,083 | 57.0% | 27.3% | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| 56 | Oak Park, IL | 53,834 | 4,108 | 60.0% | 18.8% | 9.3% | 5.7% |
| 57 | Chicago Ridge, IL | 14,284 | 4,136 | 59.9% | 7.9% | 19.8% | 2.8% |
| 58 | Des Plaines, IL | 60,087 | 4,142 | 59.3% | 3.5% | 20.7% | 13.1% |
| 59 | South Elgin, IL | 23,841 | 4,146 | 58.8% | 5.3% | 23.7% | 9.5% |
| 60 | Morton Grove, IL | 24,910 | 4,158 | 54.5% | 1.5% | 6.8% | 33.5% |
| 61 | Gurnee, IL | 30,629 | 4,199 | 61.2% | 7.6% | 14.5% | 13.2% |
| 62 | Pingree Grove, IL | 10,213 | 4,202 | 61.2% | 12.9% | 15.5% | 6.3% |
| 63 | Palatine, IL | 67,223 | 4,219 | 60.3% | 4.3% | 19.7% | 13.0% |
| 64 | Round Lake Beach, IL | 27,229 | 4,262 | 38.3% | 4.6% | 52.6% | 1.9% |
| 65 | Danville, IL | 29,100 | 4,268 | 55.7% | 33.0% | 8.0% | 1.3% |
| 66 | Rock Island, IL | 37,264 | 4,352 | 62.3% | 16.0% | 13.6% | 4.4% |
| 67 | Plano, IL | 11,113 | 4,362 | 53.9% | 4.3% | 37.8% | 2.7% |
| 68 | Gilberts, IL | 8,180 | 4,365 | 58.8% | 0.2% | 28.8% | 6.2% |
| 69 | Belleville, IL | 42,155 | 4,393 | 58.4% | 30.6% | 4.2% | 0.9% |
| 70 | Sauk Village, IL | 9,862 | 4,399 | 18.8% | 62.1% | 12.3% | 0.4% |
| 71 | Burbank, IL | 29,122 | 4,402 | 46.2% | 1.3% | 47.5% | 2.5% |
| 72 | Lincolnwood, IL | 13,268 | 4,459 | 61.9% | 3.5% | 9.4% | 23.0% |
| 73 | Bartlett, IL | 40,829 | 4,478 | 63.0% | 3.9% | 15.0% | 16.4% |
| 74 | Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,934 | 4,478 | 61.4% | 3.6% | 6.8% | 25.4% |
| 75 | Berwyn, IL | 56,556 | 4,490 | 26.2% | 8.2% | 61.0% | 3.6% |
| 76 | South Barrington, IL | 5,001 | 4,503 | 52.0% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 42.2% |
| 77 | Niles, IL | 30,637 | 4,505 | 62.4% | 2.0% | 12.0% | 21.4% |
| 78 | Prospect Heights, IL | 15,861 | 4,509 | 58.7% | 1.2% | 31.8% | 7.4% |
| 79 | Elmwood Park, IL | 24,281 | 4,509 | 57.4% | 2.0% | 34.5% | 4.2% |
| 80 | Westmont, IL | 24,271 | 4,513 | 64.2% | 5.8% | 13.2% | 13.3% |
| 81 | Schiller Park, IL | 11,600 | 4,521 | 58.4% | 1.1% | 32.6% | 6.5% |
| 82 | Harvey, IL | 20,035 | 4,549 | 3.2% | 58.8% | 32.7% | 2.3% |
| 83 | Round Lake Park, IL | 7,778 | 4,555 | 47.8% | 1.7% | 47.6% | 0.6% |
| 84 | Mount Prospect, IL | 56,191 | 4,555 | 64.0% | 2.8% | 15.9% | 13.7% |
| 85 | Naperville, IL | 149,089 | 4,570 | 63.6% | 4.6% | 6.9% | 21.0% |
| 86 | Maywood, IL | 23,385 | 4,588 | 5.7% | 60.2% | 30.5% | 1.0% |
| 87 | Bridgeview, IL | 16,939 | 4,592 | 59.5% | 4.1% | 32.0% | 2.3% |
| 88 | Lyons, IL | 10,687 | 4,611 | 40.1% | 3.1% | 54.7% | 1.3% |
| 89 | Northlake, IL | 12,683 | 4,632 | 30.1% | 4.1% | 60.8% | 2.9% |
| 90 | Oak Brook, IL | 8,065 | 4,653 | 61.3% | 1.1% | 4.9% | 29.4% |
| 91 | Oswego, IL | 34,810 | 4,673 | 65.1% | 9.9% | 17.5% | 2.9% |
| 92 | Montgomery, IL | 20,644 | 4,682 | 60.1% | 4.8% | 32.3% | 1.1% |
| 93 | Highwood, IL | 5,227 | 4,689 | 56.4% | 2.5% | 38.7% | 1.1% |
| 94 | Itasca, IL | 9,627 | 4,706 | 65.5% | 1.1% | 11.6% | 15.3% |
| 95 | Glenwood, IL | 8,542 | 4,730 | 24.4% | 63.8% | 5.6% | 0.3% |
| 96 | Villa Park, IL | 22,753 | 4,734 | 63.9% | 5.1% | 24.7% | 3.3% |
| 97 | Harvard, IL | 9,705 | 4,759 | 43.5% | 0.4% | 53.5% | 0.1% |
| 98 | Franklin Park, IL | 18,374 | 4,771 | 36.9% | 0.7% | 58.3% | 3.1% |
| 99 | Belvidere, IL | 25,389 | 4,777 | 58.3% | 1.6% | 37.0% | 1.5% |
| 100 | Pontoon Beach, IL | 6,039 | 4,783 | 66.4% | 7.4% | 17.2% | 4.6% |