Indian Community • Chicago

Hindi-Speaking Community in Chicago

20,400+ Hindi speakers • Devon Avenue: America’s original Little India • Naperville: 15,800+ Indians • District 204: 39% Asian students

Chicago’s Hindi-speaking community is the invisible backbone of Indian America’s second-largest metro. With over 20,000 Hindi speakers (ACS 2022) spread from Devon Avenue to Naperville, these families from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand built the infrastructure that every Indian community now uses. Patel Brothers started here in 1974. Devon Avenue became America’s first “Little India.” The Mall of India in Naperville replaced an entire Walmart. And every November, Chhath Puja celebrations on the shores of Lake Michigan remind everyone that Chicago’s Hindi belt is not generic — it is specific, regional, and deeply rooted.

Last updated: March 2026 • Full Indian Community guide for Chicago →

Cost Snapshot Schaumburg 2BR: ~$2,200/mo Naperville 2BR: ~$2,250/mo Median home: $320K–$600K Software eng: $120K–$190K IL flat income tax 4.95% Full Chicago cost of living & jobs → Rent: Zillow • Salary: Glassdoor/BLS • Home: Redfin • Mar 2026

Why Hindi-Speaking Families Choose Chicago

The Hindi-speaking community in Chicago is not one community — it is many. Families from Uttar Pradesh (the largest source state), Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Haryana all speak Hindi as their primary language, but each brings distinct regional food, festivals, and social networks. What binds them is the language itself — and in Chicago, that language built America’s first organized Indian commercial district.

The first wave arrived in the 1970s, settling in the West Ridge neighborhood and transforming Devon Avenue into a mile-long strip of Indian grocery stores, sari shops, jewelry stores, and restaurants. By 1974, the Patel Brothers flagship store had opened at 2610 W Devon Ave — the seed of what is now a 52-store, $200M+ national chain. Through the 1990s and 2000s, tech jobs at Motorola (Schaumburg), Lucent (Lisle), and the Illinois Technology Corridor drew a second wave of Hindi-belt professionals who settled in suburbs, trading Devon Avenue’s walkable chaos for Naperville’s top-rated school districts.

Today, the gravity has shifted decisively to the suburbs. Naperville’s India Day Parade draws 37,000+ people — larger than any Devon Avenue event. The Mall of India on Route 59 offers 100,000 square feet of Indian shopping. But Devon Avenue remains the soul: if you want to buy wedding gold, haggle over fabric, or eat chaat standing on the sidewalk, you still go to Devon.

Where Hindi Speakers Live: Census Data

Census PUMA data reveals a community that is everywhere but rarely dominant. Unlike Gujarati speakers who cluster tightly on Devon Avenue, or Telugu families concentrated in Bolingbrook, Hindi speakers are spread broadly across the metro. This reflects the “lingua franca” nature of Hindi — it is the common language used across Indian commercial life even where regional languages dominate at home.

Bolingbrook & Romeoville — 2,587 Hindi Speakers (ACS 2022)

Hindi is the #1 Indian language here — the only major suburban PUMA where this is true. But the real story is diversity: Telugu (2,108), Urdu (2,355), Tamil (1,570), Gujarati (1,581), and Punjabi (836) are all substantial. This is Chicago’s most linguistically balanced Indian area, with 13,068 total Indian language speakers. Parts of Bolingbrook are served by Indian Prairie District 204 (39% Asian (ACS 2022) students) — the same elite district that makes Naperville famous, at median home prices ~$200K less ($370K vs $600K+).

Hoffman Estates & Palatine — 2,141 Hindi Speakers (ACS 2022)

The former Motorola corridor drew thousands of Indian tech workers in the 1990s-2000s. Hindi (2,141) is strong here, but Urdu (4,303) is actually #1, reflecting the large Pakistani population in northwest suburbs. Gujarati (3,169) and Malayalam/Kannada (2,548 — a notable Keralite healthcare cluster) are also major. Hoffman Estates is 23.7% Asian (ACS 2022) with 13,326 total Indian language speakers. The Golf Road corridor is the main Indian business strip, anchored by India House Restaurant (est. 1993). Median home: ~$393K.

Aurora, Lisle & Woodridge — 2,138 Hindi Speakers (ACS 2022)

This DuPage County PUMA has 12,360 total Indian language speakers. Gujarati (4,541) leads, followed by Urdu (4,041), then Hindi. The temple density here is extraordinary: Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, Chinmaya Mission Chicago, and the massive Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in nearby Lemont (18-acre hilltop complex, founded 1977). Parts of Aurora are in District 204. Lucent Technologies in Lisle was a major employer that drew the initial Hindi-belt wave.

Devon Avenue Corridor — 5,668 Hindi Speakers (ACS 2022) (3 PUMAs)

Across three overlapping Chicago North PUMAs, Hindi totals 5,668 speakers. But the real surprise: Gujarati dominates Devon Avenue (5,491 in the core PUMA alone). The perception of Devon as “Hindi territory” is actually misleading — Gujarati merchants built and still dominate the commercial corridor. Hindi speakers are everywhere here, but as the connective tissue rather than the majority. Rogers Park (adjacent PUMA) adds another layer with Telugu (1,846) and Tamil (1,092) making it the most South Indian-leaning area in the city. The Devon corridor across all PUMAs totals over 30,000 Indian language speakers.

Naperville — 1,611 Hindi Speakers (ACS 2022) (2 PUMAs)

Naperville’s two PUMAs show 906 and 705 Hindi speakers (ACS 2022) respectively. Urdu is the #1 Indian language in both Naperville PUMAs (2,849 and 2,673), reflecting the significant Pakistani-American population. Despite the relatively modest Hindi count, Naperville has 15,800+ Indian Americans total and is unquestionably the center of Indian suburban life. District 203 (top 5% in Illinois) and District 204 (39% Asian (ACS 2022), top 10%) are the twin magnets. Median home: $600K+.

Other Notable Areas

Cook County SW Suburbs — 1,641 Hindi speakers (ACS 2022) (#1 Indian language). Growing Indian presence with 6,186 total Indian language speakers.
Des Plaines / Mount Prospect — 1,522 Hindi speakers (ACS 2022), but Urdu dominates at 5,023. This is the most Pakistani-leaning PUMA in the metro.
Skokie / Niles — 878 Hindi speakers (ACS 2022). Near-north suburbs closest to Devon Ave. Morton Grove is 33.8% Asian (ACS 2022), Lincolnwood 30.9%, Skokie 27.6%. Many families “graduated” from Devon Ave to these suburbs for better schools.
Buffalo Grove / Vernon Hills — 432 Hindi, 526 Telugu. Home to Stevenson High School (ranked #1 nationally by Niche), 28.2% Asian (ACS 2022). Median home ~$400K.

Devon Avenue: America’s Original Little India

No story of Hindi-speaking Chicago begins anywhere but Devon Avenue. The mile-long strip in West Ridge — from California Avenue to Damen Avenue, with the densest stretch between Western and California — became “Little India” in the early 1970s, as Indian immigrants moved into neighborhoods vacated by Jewish families heading to suburbs like Skokie.

Patel Brothers opened at 2610 W Devon Ave in September 1974 — an 800-square-foot shop run by brothers Mafat and Tulsi Patel. It was the seed of everything. Today, Patel Brothers is a 52-store national chain with over $200 million in revenue, and the Devon Avenue flagship still operates as its spiritual home. The store celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Devon Avenue today is still vibrant — dozens of sari shops, gold jewelry stores, sweet shops, restaurants, and grocery stores line the corridor. But it is honest to say the center of gravity has shifted to the suburbs. COVID hit foot-traffic-dependent businesses hard, and the Mall of India in Naperville was explicitly designed to bring “all of Devon indoors, closer to the suburbs.” For Hindi-speaking families choosing where to live, Devon offers urban density and walkable Indian services but weaker schools than suburban alternatives. For everyone, it remains the place to shop for weddings, festivals, and specialty items.

The zip code 60659 (straddling Devon Ave) is 32.1% Asian (ACS 2022), making West Ridge the most diverse community area in Chicago with 30+ languages spoken. It is not just Indian — Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Assyrian, Russian, and Korean businesses share the corridor. The FIA-Chicago Independence Day Parade has marched from Western Ave to California Ave along Devon since 1980 — the 2025 edition featured 13 decorated floats, 16 walking groups, and 2 live bands.

The National Indo-American Museum (originally on Devon Ave, now in Lombard) documents 375+ years of Indian American history and runs guided Devon Avenue food walks with authentic street food sampling. niam.org

Organizations & Community Life

Umbrella & Pan-Indian Organizations

Federation of Indian Associations — Chicago (FIA) — Established 1980. The premier umbrella organization uniting 300,000+ Indian Americans across Chicagoland and the Midwest. Organizes Republic Day, Independence Day, and Diwali celebrations. Coordinates immigration advocacy, social welfare, and business networking across dozens of member associations. fia-il.us
Indian Association of Greater Chicago (IAGC) — Founded 2016. Non-profit, non-political, secular organization focused on preserving Indian heritage and serving the cultural and educational needs of the community. iagc.world
Indian Community Outreach (ICO) — Naperville-based non-profit. Works with the City of Naperville to organize the India Day Parade & Celebration (37,000+ attendees, largest Indian American suburban celebration in the US). Year-round public forums, yoga events, cultural nights.

Hindi-Belt State Associations

Hindi-speaking communities in Chicago organize primarily by state of origin rather than by language. This is the key difference from Telugu, Tamil, or Gujarati communities which have strong linguistic identity organizations. Hindi-belt families find their people through state-based groups:

UP Association of Greater Chicago (UPA) — Founded 1991. The ONLY organization in Chicago that brings acclaimed Hindi poets from India for an annual Kavi Sammelan (poetry gathering). Also organizes Annual Day celebrations, Diwali events, and picnics. upassociation.com
Chicago Association of Rajasthanis in America (ARA) — Founded 1994, headquartered in Oak Brook. Three cornerstone events: Holi festival, Diwali celebration, and summer picnic. Also runs charity drives for Rajasthan water shortages and health fairs. chicagoara.org
Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA) — Founded 1975 (national). Organizes Chhath Puja celebrations and cultural events in the Chicago metro (Aurora, Naperville). bjana.org
Madhya Pradesh Association of North America (MPANA) — Connects families from MP and Chhattisgarh. mpana.org
Indo-American Center (IAC) — Founded 1990, at 6328 N California Ave (Devon corridor). Offers Hindi language classes (8-session course, ages 7-13), citizenship & immigration help, adult literacy, legal clinics, and senior services. Services in Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, and Punjabi. indoamerican.org

Temples & Spiritual Life

Chicago’s Hindu temple landscape is among the richest in America. For Hindi-speaking families, North Indian-style temples with Rama, Hanuman, Krishna, and Durga worship — and Hindi-language pujas — are the primary spiritual anchors.

Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (Lemont)

The largest Hindu temple in the Midwest. Founded 1977, inaugurated July 4, 1986. An 18-acre hilltop complex ~28 miles from downtown, with four buildings: the Rama Temple, Ganesha-Shiva-Durga Temple, community center, and Vivekananda Spiritual Center. Deities include Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Ganesha, Venkateshwara, Mahalakshmi, Krishna, and Radha. This is the spiritual home of Chicago’s Hindi-belt community — services in Hindi and Sanskrit, major celebrations for Ram Navami, Diwali, Holi, and Navratri.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Bartlett)

Opened August 2004. The largest BAPS temple in Illinois, with a $12 million community center. Hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish limestone, with 45 artisans brought from India for the construction. Burma teak carvings of peacocks, swans, and elephants. While BAPS is technically a Gujarati Swaminarayan tradition, many Hindi-speaking families attend for its spectacular architecture, organized programs, and Hindi/Gujarati-accessible services.

Hanuman Mandir of Greater Chicago (Glenview)

3623 W Lake Ave, Glenview, IL 60026 • hanumanchicago.org

Opened 2016. Home to a stunning 23.5-foot tall, 23-ton Hanuman statue carved from a single piece of marble by artisans in Jaipur, India. The temple was designed so the Hanuman statue is visible from the street — devotees can do “drive-through darshan” without even leaving their car. Hanuman worship is central to Hindi-belt devotion — Bajrang Bali is the most popular deity among UP, Bihar, and MP families. This temple fills a specific spiritual need that South Indian-style temples don’t.

Other Temples

Manav Seva Mandir, Bensenville — 101 S Church Rd. Sanatan Hindu temple and community hub. Offers aarti, grah puja, and other services. Open Tue-Sun. manavsevamandir.org
Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple, Aurora — 1145 W Sullivan Rd. Founded by Telugu professionals in 1983-84. Dedicated to Sri Balaji/Venkateswara. Active community center.
Chinmaya Mission Chicago, Aurora — Spiritual and cultural center with Bala Vihar children’s program. Year-round Diwali, Holi, and Navratri events. Hindi-language study groups and Gita classes.
Shiv Durga Hindu Temple, Aurora — Community worship and events. shivdurgahindutemple.org
Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Aurora — 522 Garfield Ave. Originally near Devon Ave, later moved to Aurora. Includes a Rama Temple. Vedic/Sanatan Dharma tradition. bsschicago.org

Festivals: Chhath Puja, Holi & Diwali

Chhath Puja — The Hindi-Belt Signature

If one festival defines the Hindi-belt community and separates it from every other Indian sub-community, it is Chhath Puja. This ancient Vedic festival — dedicated to the Sun God Surya and Chhathi Maiya — is celebrated primarily by families from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It involves standing in water at dawn and dusk to offer arghya (prayers) to the rising and setting sun, with elaborate preparations of thekua (wheat-jaggery cookies) and fruit offerings.

In Chicago, BJANA and other Bihari organizations arrange Chhath celebrations near bodies of water — Lake Michigan’s shoreline provides the setting. The festival falls in October/November (six days after Diwali) and is a powerful marker of Bihari/UP identity in the diaspora. If you see families standing knee-deep in water offering prayers to the sun at a Chicago beach in November, you’ve found the Hindi-belt community.

Holi

Holi is the Hindi-belt’s gift to Indian festival culture. While every Indian community now celebrates it, the UP and Bihar traditions — playing with dry and wet colors, bhang thandai, gujiya sweets, Holika Dahan bonfire the night before — are the original form. Multiple organizations host Holi events across the metro, from Devon Avenue gatherings to large suburban celebrations in Naperville, Schaumburg, and temple grounds.

Diwali & Other Festivals

Diwali is the biggest pan-Indian celebration in Chicago, but the Hindi-belt version has its own flavors: Lakshmi Puja on the main night, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj in the days after. FIA Chicago organizes the main metro-wide Diwali celebration. Navratri brings nine nights of Durga worship and garba/dandiya at temples and community halls — while garba is Gujarati in origin, Hindi-belt families participate heavily, especially those from Rajasthan and UP. Ram Navami at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago draws large Hindi-speaking crowds.

Hindi-Belt Food & Restaurants

Hindi-belt cuisine is what most Americans think of as “Indian food” — butter chicken, dal makhani, tandoori naan, biryani, samosa, chaat. But within the community, the regional distinctions matter. Lucknowi/Awadhi food (kebabs, nihari, biryani) is different from Bihari (litti chokha, sattu paratha) which is different from Rajasthani (dal baati churma, ker sangri). Here is where to find it.

Devon Avenue

Patel Brothers — 2610 W Devon Ave. The flagship that started it all in 1974. Fresh vegetables, desi spices, frozen foods, sweets, and snacks. The most complete Indian grocery in America.
Ghareeb Nawaz — 2032 W Devon Ave. Founded 1993. The “Desi McDonalds” — named after a Sufi saint who fed the poor. Nothing on the menu over $10. Massive portions of butter chicken, biryani, kebabs, and tandoori for recent immigrants and budget-conscious students. Now 4 locations. A Devon Ave institution.
Sabri Nihari — 2502 W Devon Ave. Multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand awards (since 2017). Specialties: nihari (slow-cooked beef stew, 6-8 hours), mutton biryani, chicken boti, karahi chicken. ~30 years on Devon.
Sukhadia’s Sweets & Snacks — 2559 W Devon Ave. Opened 1995. Authentic mithai, chaat, samosas, jalebis. Essential for festival gifting and wedding sweets.
Karachi Chaat House — 2301 W Devon Ave. Chaat, biryani, samosa, rolls. The closest thing to a UP chaat corner in America.
Gold jewelry & sari shops — Devon remains THE wedding shopping destination: Regal Jewels (est. 1987), Joyalukkas (3rd US showroom, 2017), Malabar Gold (250th global store, 2019), Taj Sari Palace, India Sari Palace (2534 W Devon), and My Niketan (2544 W Devon).

Suburban Restaurants & Grocery

Mall of India — 776 S Route 59, Naperville. A 100,000 sq ft former Walmart converted into an indoor Indian shopping and dining complex. 24+ restaurants and a food court serving everything from dosa to pani puri. Grocery stores, clothing shops, medical clinics, even cricket bat suppliers.
India House Restaurant — 721 W Golf Rd, Hoffman Estates. Founded 1993, now expanded to 4 locations. North Indian staples.
The Indian Harvest — Naperville. Est. 1998. Awarded Best Indian Restaurant by Naperville Magazine every year since 2018.
Gaylord — Schaumburg. Upscale North Indian classics: butter chicken, tandoori mixed grill.
Bollywood Bistro & Banquet — Naperville. North Indian cuisine with warm atmosphere.
Thattu — Avondale (not Devon). Kerala restaurant named one of America’s 50 best restaurants by the New York Times (2023). Not Hindi-belt cuisine, but Chicago’s most acclaimed Indian restaurant.
Patel Brothers suburban locations — Multiple stores across the metro including Naperville (1568 W Ogden Ave), Schaumburg, and other suburbs.
Indiaco — Inside Mall of India, Naperville. Major Indian grocery with vegetarian kitchen.

What to look for: The Hindi-belt food markers are chaat (especially pani puri and aloo tikki), tandoori items, biryani (Lucknowi style — lighter than Hyderabadi), litti chokha (Bihari — rare but appearing at community events), and dal baati churma (Rajasthani — mostly at festivals and home kitchens). If a restaurant menu has nihari, galouti kebab, and sheermal, you’ve found Lucknowi food.

Bollywood, Dance & Entertainment

Bollywood is the cultural glue of Hindi-speaking India, and Chicago’s scene is strong.

Bollywood Theaters

Ciné Lounge at Niles — 9180 W Golf Rd, Niles, IL. Opened October 2022. The primary Bollywood theater in the metro. Recliner seating, an attached restaurant serving Indian food (dosa, biryani, snacks). Shows Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and other regional films. Located on the Golf Rd Indian corridor near Schaumburg.
AMC theaters showing Bollywood releases: AMC Streets of Woodfield 20 (Schaumburg), AMC South Barrington 24, AMC Village Crossing 18 (Skokie).
The Matrix Club, Naperville — THE major Bollywood concert venue in Chicago. Recent performers include Vishal & Shekhar, Madhuri Dixit, and Abhijeet Bhattacharya. Also hosts Dandiya Masti nights, Bollywood Blast NYE, and Sufi music events.

Dance Schools

Naach Chicago — Bollywood dance company with branches in Chicago and New York. 12+ instructors. Specializes in Bollywood and fusion choreography for performances, weddings, and competitions. naachchicago.com
I-RADHA — Indian Rhythms Arts & Dances Heritage Academy. Founded 2016 in Schaumburg by Ms. Kiran Chouhan. Offers Kathak (the classical dance of North India), Bollywood dance, and Hindi language classes. The Hindi classes focus on conversational fluency. i-radha.org
Nache Mayuri — Bollywood and Indian dance school. nachemayuri.com
Gauri Jog Dance Academy — Kathak and Bollywood. gaurijog.com

Note on Kathak: While Bharatanatyam is the classical dance of Tamil Nadu and Kuchipudi is Andhra/Telugu, Kathak is the classical dance of the Hindi belt — originating in the courts of Lucknow and Jaipur. I-RADHA and Gauri Jog Academy teach the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas respectively. For Hindi-belt families, Kathak carries the same cultural weight that Bharatanatyam carries for Tamil families.

Hindi Language & Education

Hindi has an advantage that other Indian languages don’t: it is widely understood across virtually all Indian communities, making it the default language of Indian community events, Bollywood, and inter-regional communication. But for families from the Hindi belt, maintaining mother-tongue fluency in the next generation is still a concern — American-born children default to English quickly.

I-RADHA Hindi Classes — Schaumburg, Naperville, Libertyville, Lincoln Park. Conversational Hindi for children, integrated with the dance academy. i-radha.org
Indo-American Center — 6328 N California Ave (Devon corridor). 8-session Hindi course for ages 7-13. indoamerican.org
Balodyan — Buffalo Grove. Founded 1998 by Vidya Nahar. Spoken and written Hindi and Marathi classes taught through play-based methods.
Temple-based Hindi classes — The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (Lemont) and Chinmaya Mission (Aurora) offer Hindi and Sanskrit classes through their youth programs and Bala Vihar.

Unlike the Tamil community in the Bay Area (which achieved public school credit for Tamil language in 2003), Hindi does not yet have formal credit-bearing programs in Illinois public schools. Most Hindi education happens through private classes, temple programs, and family conversation.

The Naperville & Suburban Ecosystem

For Hindi-speaking families arriving today, the suburban decision tree is straightforward:

Top schools, full Indian ecosystem, can afford $600K+: Naperville (District 203 or 204)
Same great schools, need to save $200K: Bolingbrook (District 204 areas, median $370K)
Best single high school in the country: Buffalo Grove / Vernon Hills (Stevenson HS, median ~$400K)
Affordable with Indian infrastructure: Schaumburg / Hoffman Estates (Golf Rd corridor, median $320-$393K)
Close to Devon, suburban schools: Skokie / Morton Grove / Lincolnwood (28-34% Asian (ACS 2022), median $390-$450K)
Wealthy enclave: Oak Brook (33% Asian (ACS 2022), median $868K)
Urban, walkable Indian life: Devon Avenue / West Ridge (32% Asian (ACS 2022), lower prices, weaker schools)

The Mall of India (776 S Route 59, Naperville) has become the suburban equivalent of Devon Avenue — a 100,000 sq ft complex with 24+ restaurants, a food court, grocery stores, clothing shops, and specialty stores (cricket bats, foldable cots, Bollywood DVDs). It is the clearest symbol of how thoroughly the Hindi-speaking community has suburbanized.

For detailed neighborhood profiles, school district comparisons, H-1B employer data, cost of living, and climate information, see our full Indian Community guide for Chicago.

Data Sources

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2022 5-Year Estimates) • Community organization websites and direct verification • Local school district enrollment data • Zillow and Apartments.com (rent estimates) • Glassdoor and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (salary data) • Redfin (home price data). Community population estimates reflect available Census language data combined with organization-reported figures. Read our full research methodology →