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 2025:
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 2025
/10
Population: 32,864
HHI: 2,585
% White: 29.6%
% African American: 11.6%
% Hispanic: 31.4%
% Asian: 24.0%
More on Glendale Heights: Data
/10
Population: 73,813
HHI: 2,647
% White: 36.3%
% African American: 18.2%
% Hispanic: 28.2%
% Asian: 13.9%
More on Bolingbrook: Data
/10
Population: 2,707,648
HHI: 2,753
% White: 32.2%
% African American: 28.0%
% Hispanic: 29.6%
% Asian: 7.0%
More on Chicago: Data
/10
Population: 30,772
HHI: 2,882
% White: 28.5%
% African American: 23.3%
% Hispanic: 38.6%
% Asian: 4.9%
More on North Chicago: Data
/10
Population: 36,850
HHI: 2,925
% White: 31.1%
% African American: 7.8%
% Hispanic: 39.0%
% Asian: 19.4%
More on Hanover Park: Data
/10
Population: 24,466
HHI: 3,034
% White: 24.9%
% African American: 25.3%
% Hispanic: 41.7%
% Asian: 2.2%
More on Zion: Data
/10
Population: 12,515
HHI: 3,092
% White: 45.2%
% African American: 20.6%
% Hispanic: 22.4%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Rantoul: Data
/10
Population: 179,867
HHI: 3,122
% White: 32.5%
% African American: 10.5%
% Hispanic: 42.8%
% Asian: 10.9%
More on Aurora: Data
/10
Population: 18,650
HHI: 3,151
% White: 43.6%
% African American: 21.9%
% Hispanic: 27.4%
% Asian: 2.6%
More on Alsip: Data
/10
Population: 24,384
HHI: 3,220
% White: 31.9%
% African American: 40.2%
% Hispanic: 24.0%
% Asian: 0.8%
More on Kankakee: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Illinois for 2025
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 2019-2023 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 2,585 (Glendale Heights) to 9,758 (Litchfield).
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 Litchfield was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2025. 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, Rantoul, Aurora, Alsip, and Kankakee.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Illinois:
- Litchfield
- West Frankfort
- Paris
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 2025
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glendale Heights, IL | 32,864 | 2,585 | 29.6% | 11.6% | 31.4% | 24.0% |
| 2 | Bolingbrook, IL | 73,813 | 2,647 | 36.3% | 18.2% | 28.2% | 13.9% |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | 2,707,648 | 2,753 | 32.2% | 28.0% | 29.6% | 7.0% |
| 4 | North Chicago, IL | 30,772 | 2,882 | 28.5% | 23.3% | 38.6% | 4.9% |
| 5 | Hanover Park, IL | 36,850 | 2,925 | 31.1% | 7.8% | 39.0% | 19.4% |
| 6 | Zion, IL | 24,466 | 3,034 | 24.9% | 25.3% | 41.7% | 2.2% |
| 7 | Rantoul, IL | 12,515 | 3,092 | 45.2% | 20.6% | 22.4% | 0.7% |
| 8 | Aurora, IL | 179,867 | 3,122 | 32.5% | 10.5% | 42.8% | 10.9% |
| 9 | Alsip, IL | 18,650 | 3,151 | 43.6% | 21.9% | 27.4% | 2.6% |
| 10 | Kankakee, IL | 24,384 | 3,220 | 31.9% | 40.2% | 24.0% | 0.8% |
| 11 | Streamwood, IL | 39,055 | 3,276 | 39.3% | 3.8% | 38.7% | 14.2% |
| 12 | Berkeley, IL | 5,222 | 3,298 | 26.2% | 25.8% | 44.0% | 2.7% |
| 13 | Romeoville, IL | 40,996 | 3,300 | 42.7% | 12.5% | 35.7% | 6.0% |
| 14 | Crest Hill, IL | 19,754 | 3,310 | 47.7% | 20.4% | 24.3% | 3.1% |
| 15 | Carol Stream, IL | 39,427 | 3,323 | 50.5% | 6.4% | 18.3% | 19.5% |
| 16 | Skokie, IL | 66,427 | 3,329 | 48.7% | 9.9% | 11.0% | 27.0% |
| 17 | Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,186 | 3,333 | 48.7% | 5.0% | 19.0% | 23.6% |
| 18 | Chicago Heights, IL | 26,938 | 3,346 | 20.3% | 39.3% | 37.2% | 0.2% |
| 19 | Round Lake, IL | 18,588 | 3,381 | 46.0% | 3.1% | 32.1% | 14.6% |
| 20 | Joliet, IL | 149,785 | 3,383 | 43.5% | 16.7% | 34.7% | 2.0% |
| 21 | Rockford, IL | 147,649 | 3,413 | 50.1% | 21.1% | 20.6% | 3.6% |
| 22 | Blue Island, IL | 23,416 | 3,464 | 19.2% | 35.2% | 43.1% | 0.5% |
| 23 | Hillside, IL | 8,133 | 3,508 | 19.1% | 45.1% | 33.3% | 1.5% |
| 24 | Wheeling, IL | 38,495 | 3,521 | 47.4% | 2.0% | 32.0% | 15.7% |
| 25 | East Moline, IL | 20,837 | 3,522 | 52.2% | 19.7% | 19.2% | 2.8% |
| 26 | Midlothian, IL | 14,024 | 3,527 | 48.3% | 8.9% | 32.8% | 3.5% |
| 27 | Forest Park, IL | 14,000 | 3,608 | 53.0% | 24.8% | 11.1% | 7.2% |
| 28 | Lansing, IL | 28,415 | 3,612 | 25.2% | 51.5% | 17.4% | 2.4% |
| 29 | Urbana, IL | 38,447 | 3,666 | 55.5% | 16.7% | 9.3% | 14.5% |
| 30 | West Chicago, IL | 25,434 | 3,669 | 35.1% | 2.5% | 48.0% | 10.4% |
| 31 | Steger, IL | 9,449 | 3,673 | 53.4% | 17.1% | 22.2% | 1.2% |
| 32 | Evergreen Park, IL | 19,498 | 3,683 | 53.2% | 22.2% | 18.5% | 2.8% |
| 33 | Beach Park, IL | 13,988 | 3,709 | 31.8% | 12.5% | 50.2% | 4.3% |
| 34 | Justice, IL | 12,372 | 3,717 | 54.1% | 22.2% | 16.4% | 4.5% |
| 35 | Champaign, IL | 88,822 | 3,721 | 56.0% | 17.1% | 7.5% | 14.8% |
| 36 | Crete, IL | 8,382 | 3,722 | 49.1% | 34.3% | 10.4% | 1.0% |
| 37 | Elgin, IL | 114,106 | 3,731 | 36.3% | 4.9% | 48.4% | 5.9% |
| 38 | Westchester, IL | 16,524 | 3,744 | 53.7% | 19.9% | 21.3% | 3.4% |
| 39 | Fairview Heights, IL | 16,255 | 3,786 | 51.3% | 32.3% | 2.6% | 2.8% |
| 40 | Peoria, IL | 112,126 | 3,797 | 54.8% | 25.8% | 7.6% | 6.4% |
| 41 | Woodridge, IL | 33,889 | 3,824 | 57.4% | 11.1% | 16.4% | 11.3% |
| 42 | Homewood, IL | 19,471 | 3,824 | 42.0% | 44.5% | 8.0% | 1.4% |
| 43 | South Elgin, IL | 23,984 | 3,832 | 56.6% | 5.8% | 21.0% | 11.7% |
| 44 | Addison, IL | 35,470 | 3,843 | 42.9% | 3.1% | 43.8% | 8.9% |
| 45 | Mundelein, IL | 31,632 | 3,844 | 49.0% | 1.7% | 36.5% | 10.1% |
| 46 | Waukegan, IL | 88,919 | 3,865 | 18.1% | 15.7% | 57.0% | 5.9% |
| 47 | Schaumburg, IL | 76,780 | 3,867 | 56.0% | 5.4% | 11.2% | 23.8% |
| 48 | Des Plaines, IL | 59,408 | 3,871 | 55.8% | 3.5% | 23.2% | 14.1% |
| 49 | Rolling Meadows, IL | 23,981 | 3,876 | 53.8% | 3.4% | 29.3% | 10.3% |
| 50 | Monee, IL | 5,104 | 3,879 | 51.3% | 33.7% | 9.7% | 3.5% |
| 51 | Evanston, IL | 76,552 | 3,888 | 58.4% | 14.6% | 12.3% | 9.0% |
| 52 | Dekalb, IL | 40,464 | 3,908 | 57.5% | 15.1% | 18.4% | 3.8% |
| 53 | Morton Grove, IL | 24,687 | 3,924 | 53.2% | 1.7% | 7.9% | 31.6% |
| 54 | Carbondale, IL | 21,813 | 3,977 | 55.9% | 27.6% | 5.4% | 6.7% |
| 55 | Chicago Ridge, IL | 14,147 | 3,981 | 58.9% | 8.9% | 17.1% | 4.1% |
| 56 | Beardstown, IL | 6,047 | 3,985 | 48.8% | 7.3% | 39.2% | 1.6% |
| 57 | Pingree Grove, IL | 10,576 | 4,019 | 59.3% | 10.5% | 18.2% | 6.6% |
| 58 | Vernon Hills, IL | 26,772 | 4,075 | 57.6% | 1.7% | 12.4% | 24.3% |
| 59 | Gurnee, IL | 30,486 | 4,106 | 60.1% | 7.4% | 16.5% | 12.6% |
| 60 | Bensenville, IL | 18,576 | 4,128 | 40.2% | 5.4% | 49.7% | 3.2% |
| 61 | Palatine, IL | 66,548 | 4,131 | 59.7% | 5.3% | 19.3% | 12.8% |
| 62 | Sauk Village, IL | 9,724 | 4,144 | 15.0% | 60.5% | 13.9% | 0.3% |
| 63 | Round Lake Park, IL | 7,833 | 4,166 | 46.0% | 1.8% | 44.8% | 0.8% |
| 64 | Carpentersville, IL | 37,544 | 4,215 | 32.1% | 4.9% | 56.0% | 4.0% |
| 65 | Oak Park, IL | 53,315 | 4,237 | 61.1% | 19.3% | 8.5% | 5.3% |
| 66 | Round Lake Beach, IL | 27,081 | 4,237 | 35.5% | 4.5% | 54.3% | 2.3% |
| 67 | Bartlett, IL | 40,531 | 4,257 | 60.8% | 4.0% | 14.7% | 17.8% |
| 68 | Danville, IL | 28,663 | 4,261 | 54.9% | 34.5% | 7.6% | 1.4% |
| 69 | Westmont, IL | 24,201 | 4,266 | 61.9% | 6.6% | 14.4% | 13.0% |
| 70 | Montgomery, IL | 21,205 | 4,282 | 57.5% | 7.2% | 30.3% | 1.6% |
| 71 | Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,824 | 4,290 | 58.6% | 3.7% | 6.3% | 28.2% |
| 72 | Belleville, IL | 41,722 | 4,321 | 57.0% | 32.0% | 3.4% | 0.9% |
| 73 | Prospect Heights, IL | 15,681 | 4,338 | 55.0% | 0.4% | 35.5% | 7.2% |
| 74 | Niles, IL | 30,262 | 4,368 | 61.2% | 2.4% | 14.0% | 20.3% |
| 75 | Berwyn, IL | 55,888 | 4,405 | 26.3% | 8.2% | 60.2% | 4.1% |
| 76 | Naperville, IL | 149,424 | 4,406 | 62.0% | 4.4% | 7.4% | 21.7% |
| 77 | Oswego, IL | 35,463 | 4,411 | 63.0% | 11.8% | 16.4% | 4.4% |
| 78 | Lincolnwood, IL | 13,179 | 4,420 | 60.5% | 2.9% | 7.5% | 26.3% |
| 79 | Shiloh, IL | 14,109 | 4,427 | 61.1% | 25.1% | 5.8% | 2.0% |
| 80 | Posen, IL | 5,331 | 4,430 | 18.5% | 18.3% | 61.3% | 0.3% |
| 81 | Burbank, IL | 28,822 | 4,453 | 44.4% | 1.4% | 49.7% | 2.7% |
| 82 | Maywood, IL | 23,173 | 4,458 | 5.7% | 57.5% | 33.4% | 0.6% |
| 83 | Lyons, IL | 10,391 | 4,471 | 46.0% | 2.9% | 48.4% | 2.1% |
| 84 | North Riverside, IL | 7,495 | 4,473 | 59.5% | 8.3% | 29.4% | 1.6% |
| 85 | Highwood, IL | 5,243 | 4,475 | 53.1% | 2.5% | 40.6% | 1.5% |
| 86 | Harvey, IL | 19,831 | 4,481 | 3.2% | 57.1% | 34.6% | 2.3% |
| 87 | Rock Island, IL | 36,758 | 4,493 | 63.7% | 15.2% | 13.5% | 3.4% |
| 88 | Elmwood Park, IL | 23,982 | 4,495 | 55.0% | 1.6% | 38.1% | 3.5% |
| 89 | Plano, IL | 11,626 | 4,496 | 55.7% | 4.7% | 37.0% | 0.9% |
| 90 | Mount Prospect, IL | 55,648 | 4,497 | 63.3% | 2.5% | 16.2% | 14.5% |
| 91 | Moline, IL | 42,235 | 4,557 | 64.0% | 9.9% | 18.4% | 3.2% |
| 92 | Pontoon Beach, IL | 6,131 | 4,559 | 64.6% | 8.7% | 16.6% | 3.8% |
| 93 | Broadview, IL | 7,898 | 4,561 | 10.6% | 63.1% | 21.2% | 1.9% |
| 94 | South Barrington, IL | 5,004 | 4,569 | 50.1% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 45.2% |
| 95 | Oak Brook, IL | 8,028 | 4,570 | 60.3% | 1.1% | 6.5% | 29.8% |
| 96 | Warrenville, IL | 14,232 | 4,594 | 63.0% | 5.0% | 23.5% | 6.3% |
| 97 | Savoy, IL | 8,807 | 4,598 | 64.9% | 9.1% | 8.0% | 15.0% |
| 98 | Bridgeview, IL | 16,721 | 4,624 | 60.3% | 4.1% | 30.9% | 2.5% |
| 99 | Belvidere, IL | 24,510 | 4,626 | 56.9% | 2.5% | 37.1% | 1.5% |
| 100 | Oak Forest, IL | 26,888 | 4,632 | 64.8% | 7.7% | 18.0% | 5.9% |