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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Kankakee

Illinois · 27,491 residents · 15.1 sq mi
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The short version

Kankakee is home to 27,491 people in Illinois. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 35%. 53% of homes are owner-occupied. About 13% of adults have finished a four-year degree. 21.4% of people here live below the federal poverty line. The typical home is worth $72,300, having more than doubled since 1990.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

27,491
Unchangedsince 1990
from 27,575 in 1990
1990 – 2025
32.3
+1%since 1990
from 32.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
15.1 sq mi
Population, 19902024
24K25K26K27K28K19902000201020202024Kankakee
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.3%(2,292)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98.7%(2,395)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.9%(2,163)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.3%(2,008)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247%(1,922)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.3%(3,941)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.4%(3,954)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.6%(3,188)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647.1%(1,957)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.9%(1,633)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.1%(1,413)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.3%(625)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$30,469
+14%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $20,328 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$15,479
+50%since 1990
from $10,349 in 1990
US average: $21,522
21.4%
−2.1 ptssince 1990
from 23.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$72,300
+39%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $39,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$491
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $355 in 1990
US average: $602
53.4%
+2.7 ptssince 1990
from 50.7% in 1990
46.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic62.1%(17,119)
Black36.3%(10,018)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(661)
Asian0.4%(104)
2000
White, non-Hispanic47.8%(13,130)
Black40.8%(11,216)
Hispanic / Latino9.3%(2,544)
Asian0.3%(86)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican21.2%(5,086)
Guatemalan1.4%(342)
Honduran0.5%(120)
Salvadoran0.3%(80)
Puerto Rican0.3%(65)
Venezuelan0.1%(34)
Cuban0.1%(33)
Colombian0.1%(16)
Spaniard0.1%(16)
Ecuadorian0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Chinese0.4%(98)
Asian Indian0.4%(91)
Korean0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
Subsaharan African22.4%(5,376)
German7.3%(1,761)
Irish6.5%(1,567)
English3.5%(841)
Italian2.1%(499)
French2%(480)
American1.7%(399)
Polish1.6%(395)
Swedish0.8%(182)
Dutch0.5%(131)
Scottish0.4%(106)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.2%(59)
Czech0.2%(43)
Greek0.2%(40)
Israeli0.1%(33)
Bulgarian0.1%(32)
Slovak0.1%(28)
Welsh0.1%(21)
Finnish0.1%(16)
Russian0.1%(16)
British0.1%(15)
Hungarian0.1%(15)
Armenian0.1%(12)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(12)
Belgian0%(11)
Serbian0%(7)
Slovene0%(6)
Swiss0%(5)
Iranian0%(1)
Section 05

Education

13.2%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 11.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
68.3%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 65.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.9%
+1.2 ptssince 1990
from 3.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.2 min
−5%since 1990
from 17.0 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married37.7%(3,642)
Married48.4%(4,669)
Widowed3.4%(326)
Divorced10.5%(1,017)
Women 15+
Never married30.4%(3,333)
Married41.3%(4,530)
Widowed14.6%(1,606)
Divorced13.6%(1,495)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

8.6%
−9.8 ptssince 2013
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
38.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2020
from 45.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
7.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 10.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
18.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
40.1%
+4.5 ptssince 2020
from 35.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
46.2%
−7.0 ptssince 2020
from 53.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
53.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2020
from 48.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.2%(227)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.4%(191)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.3%(293)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0.9%(8)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 937 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Kankakee, Illinois?

Kankakee, Illinois has about 27,491 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Kankakee, Illinois?

The typical household in Kankakee, Illinois earns about $30,469 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kankakee, Illinois expensive?

In Kankakee, Illinois, the median home is worth about $72,300, and the typical rent is about $491 a month.

How educated are people in Kankakee, Illinois?

About 13.2% of adults age 25 and over in Kankakee, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kankakee, Illinois?

About 21.4% of people in Kankakee, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kankakee, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Kankakee, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 84 residents, a change of about -0 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →