Poverty and living standards in Des Plaines, Illinois: official figures
6.0% of residents of Des Plaines (3,515 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 101st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Illinois: 11.8%).
How many children live in poverty in Des Plaines?
6.8% of children under 18 in Des Plaines lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (817 children), 122nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Illinois: 15.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Des Plaines?
By age, the poverty rate in Des Plaines was 7.0% for children under 6 and 8.1% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Des Plaines live in deep poverty?
1,983 people in Des Plaines, 3.4% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 130th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Des Plaines are cost-burdened?
38.7% of renting households in Des Plaines spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (1,771 households), 23rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Illinois: 47.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Des Plaines spend half their income on rent?
19.1% of renting households in Des Plaines spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 60th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Des Plaines are food insecure?
An estimated 14.9% of adults in Des Plaines experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 214th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 12.4% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Des Plaines compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 723 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 720 | West Jordan | 6.1% |
| 721 | Murray | 6.0% |
| 722 | Arlington Heights | 6.0% |
| 723 | Des Plaines | 6.0% |
| 724 | Meridian | 6.0% |
| 725 | Palo Alto | 6.0% |
| 726 | Mountain View | 6.0% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 702 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 699 | Chapel Hill | 6.9% |
| 700 | Yorba Linda | 6.9% |
| 701 | Union City | 6.9% |
| 702 | Des Plaines | 6.8% |
| 703 | Wylie | 6.8% |
| 704 | McKinney | 6.7% |
| 705 | Flower Mound | 6.7% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 694 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 691 | Euless | 3.4% |
| 692 | North Richland Hills | 3.4% |
| 693 | Saratoga Springs | 3.4% |
| 694 | Des Plaines | 3.4% |
| 695 | Round Rock | 3.4% |
| 696 | Downers Grove | 3.4% |
| 697 | Westminster | 3.4% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 801 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 798 | St. Charles | 39.0% |
| 799 | Appleton | 38.9% |
| 800 | Novi | 38.7% |
| 801 | Des Plaines | 38.7% |
| 802 | Shawnee | 38.6% |
| 803 | Springdale | 38.5% |
| 804 | Mountain View | 38.4% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Des Plaines ranks 379 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 376 | Manchester | 14.9% |
| 377 | Greenville | 14.9% |
| 378 | White Plains | 14.9% |
| 379 | Des Plaines | 14.9% |
| 380 | Concord | 14.8% |
| 381 | Rio Rancho | 14.8% |
| 382 | Frederick | 14.8% |
More on Des Plaines: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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