Western Springs Census: Village Slightly More Diverse

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Western Springs saw growth in its population over the last 10 years, becoming slightly more diverse, U.S. Census numbers show.

According to recently released 2020 Census numbers, Western Springs' population rose to 13,629, a 5 percent increase from a decade before. Its population was 12,975 in 2010. La Grange also experienced a 5 percent increase.

The non-Hispanic white share of the population dropped to 90.3 percent in 2020, down from 96.8 percent a decade before. Its share of non-Hispanic whites is higher than other western suburbs, including Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Darien, Clarendon Hills and La Grange.

The Hispanic share of the village's population rose to 4.6 percent, from 2.8 percent. The Asian portion increased to 1.8 percent, from 1.4 percent. African Americans remained at 0.4 percent.

Some caveats: The Census questions from 2010 to 2020 were not apples to apples. Also, the Census reports that many more people are identifying as multiracial and many are rethinking their racial identities. Experts also believe that the design of the Census form may have caused some shifts.

Nationally, the white population dropped to 57.8 percent in 2020, from 63.7 percent a decade before. Hispanics accounted for more than half of the nation's population growth in the last 10 years, now making up 18.7 percent of the country. They made up 16 percent in 2010.

The U.S. population grew 7.4 percent in the last decade, reaching 331.4 million in 2020.

Following are the numbers for Western Springs and nearby towns. Racial percentages may add up to more than 100 percent because Hispanics can be of any race.

WESTERN SPRINGS

2020
13,629 (5 percent increase)
White non-Hispanic: 12,309 (90.3 percent)
Hispanic: 624 (4.6 percent)
Asian: 246 (1.8 percent)
Black: 57 (0.4 percent)

2010
12,975
White non-Hispanic: 12,554 (96.8 percent)
Hispanic: 361 (2.8 percent)
Asian: 180 (1.4 percent)
Black: 46 (0.4 percent)

LA GRANGE

2020
16,321 (5 percent increase)
White non-Hispanic: 13,420 (82.2 percent)
Hispanic: 1,421 (8.7 percent)
Black: 585 (3.6 percent)
Asian: 274 (1.7 percent)

2010
15,545
White non-Hispanic: 13,983 (84 percent)
Hispanic: 998 (7 percent)
Black: 759 (6 percent)
Asian: 214 (1 percent)

ELMHURST

2020
45,786 (3.7 percent increase)
White non-Hispanic: 35,971 (78.6 percent)
Hispanic: 4,269 (9.3 percent)
Asian: 2,942 (6.5 percent)
Black: 931 (2 percent)

2010
44,121
White non-Hispanic 39,478 (89.5 percent)
Hispanic 2,898 (6.6 percent)
Asian 2,272 (5.2 percent)
Black 841 (1.9 percent)

CLARENDON HILLS

2020
8,702 (3.3 percent increase)
White non-Hispanic: 6,910 (79.4 percent)
Asian: 731 (8.4 percent)
Hispanic: 519 (6 percent)
Black: 123 (1.4 percent)

2010
8,427
White non-Hispanic: 7,601 (90.2 percent)
Asian: 433 (5.1 percent)
Hispanic: 426 (5.1 percent)
Black: 149 (1.8 percent)

HINSDALE

2020
17,935 (6.7 percent increase)
White non-Hispanic: 13,226 (73.8 percent)
Asian: 2,161 (12 percent)
Hispanic: 948 (7.2 percent)
Black: 282 (1.6 percent)

2010
16,816
White non-Hispanic: 15,135 (90 percent)
Asian: 1,077 (6.4 percent)
Hispanic: 592 (3.5 percent)
Black: 216 (1.3 percent)

DARIEN

2020
22,011 (0.3 percent decrease)
White non-Hispanic: 15,882 (72.2 percent)
Asian: 2,855 (13 percent)
Hispanic: 1,855 (8.4 percent)
Black: 738 (3.4 percent)

2010
22,086
White non-Hispanic: 17,985 (90.1 percent)
Asian: 2,619 (9.5 percent)
Hispanic: 1,386 (6.2 percent)
Black: 706 (1 percent)

BURR RIDGE

2020
11,192 (6 percent increase)
White non-Hispanic: 8,212 (73.4 percent)
Asian 1,834: (16.4 percent)
Hispanic: 609 (5.4 percent)
Black: 208 (1.9 percent)

2010
10,559
White non-Hispanic: 8,487 (80.4 percent)
Asian: 1,568 (14.8 percent)
Hispanic: 430 (4.1 percent)
Black: 209 (2 percent)