Buffalo Grove: Demographics & People
42,891 people call Buffalo Grove home, in 16,213 households. Population grew 0.2% from 42,824 (2022) to 42,891 (2024). Median age 42.0 years. (2.9y older than Lake County; 4.3y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 58% White (non-Hispanic) and 30% Asian. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.53). 73% of households are family-led. County is losing 127,111 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 12% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 27% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 68 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.2% from 42,824 (2022) to 42,891 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~42,959 (extrapolated at 0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,275,541 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 42,824 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 42,891 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 42,891 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 43,052 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.0y is 3.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.0 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 42,891 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 10,517 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 6,623.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 18,977.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 6,774 |
| Population under 18 | 10,517 |
| Median age | 42.0 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 42,891 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.53 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 26,363 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,617 |
| Asian residents | 12,094 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,705 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 53.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 61.6% |
| Asian population | 29.7% (vs Illinois 6.1%) |
| Black population | 3.4% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.8% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 58.2% (vs Illinois 54.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 38% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 19,780 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 6,397 |
| Share born in this state | 46.1% |
| Share born in another state | 53.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 14.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 38.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 15,374 |
| From Europe | 5,810 |
| From Africa | 7,929 |
| From Latin America | 60 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 9 |
| Census Foreign Born · Central America | 23 |
Households & Family Composition
16,213 households. Averaging 2.6 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 73% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 12,013 families, 40% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 10,575 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 12,013 |
| Married couples with children | 4,850 |
| Single-parent households | 176 |
| Average household size | 2.65 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 8.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 452 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 24 |
| Family households | 11,877 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 73.3% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 16,213 households (vs Illinois 14,867) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 11.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 127,111 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 11.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 4,217,303 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 4,344,414 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -127,111 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 1,578 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 298 residents live in group quarters (0.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 298 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17031 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 031 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Cook |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 15.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 14.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 15.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17031 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Cook County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large central metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 165,505 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17031 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Cook County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 84.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 75.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 58.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 5,150,233 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 9.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 12 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 7 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 42,891, stable, established, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 42,891 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Cook County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade