First incorporated in 1922, Roselle can correctly be categorized as a bedroom community — that is, a community that largely consists of residential zoning in both income streams and geographical area. Residents generally commute to Chicago or nearby suburbs for their jobs. As a result, the early rural atmosphere of the community has been lost over the past 30 years.
There are three main commercially-zoned areas in the village. One is along the southern border of the town along Lake Street (U.S. Route 20), the second is in the center of the village near the historical center of Park Street and Irving Park Road (Illinois Route 19). In 2005, a new downtown business development opened along the Soo Line Railroad tracks just north of the town center (Main Street Station), the third is along Nerge Road the northern edge of the village. Plans are currently underway for the redevelopment of the Downtown District in addition to Main Street Station. The several phase project is collectively known as Village Crossing.
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,115 people, 8,443 households, and 6,239 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,301.1 people per square mile (1,662.0/km²). There were 8,552 housing units at an average density of 1,591.3/sq mi (614.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 87.89% White, 1.66% African American, 0.21% Native American, 7.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.18% of the population.
There were 8,443 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $65,254, and the median income for a family was $73,444 (these figures had risen to $76,544 and $85,604 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $51,879 versus $33,564 for females. The per capita income for the village was $28,501. About 1.3% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Roselle is roughly bounded by the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway and Nerge Road to the north, unincorporated Medinah to the east, Lake Street to the south and Gary Avenue to the west. The main arterial roads of Irving Park Road and Roselle Road east-west and north-south, respectively, through the central commercial area of Roselle.
Bicycle trails link the nearby cities of Schaumburg and Bloomingdale. The North Central DuPage Regional Trail runs through far southeasten portions of Roselle.
Roselle has a station on Metra's Milwaukee District/West Line, which provides daily rail service between Elgin, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois (at Union Station).