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CITY · 2020 ACS

Kankakee

Illinois · 24,052 residents · 15.1 sq mi
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The short version

Kankakee is home to 24,052 people in Illinois. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. 27.5% of people here live below the federal poverty line. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 43%. The typical home is worth $87,000. 48% of homes are owner-occupied.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 20%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

24,052
−13%since 2000
from 27,491 in 2000
1990 – 2025
36.6
+13%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
15.1 sq mi
Population, 19902024
24K25K26K27K28K19902000201020202024Kankakee
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.7%(1,601)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(1,659)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.6%(1,830)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197%(1,693)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(1,455)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.3%(3,198)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413%(3,130)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(2,808)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.6%(3,038)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.8%(2,125)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.2%(1,017)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.1%(498)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$38,763
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,469 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$20,680
+34%since 2000
from $15,479 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
24.0%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
27.5%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 21.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.8%
US avg: 10%
Information10.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 2%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$87,000
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$844
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $491 in 2000
US average: $1,124
48.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 53.4% in 2000
51.9% rent
2.54 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.65 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.2
−23%since 2009
from 2.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic47.8%(13,130)
Black40.8%(11,216)
Hispanic / Latino9.3%(2,544)
Asian0.3%(86)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic33.7%(8,096)
Black38.4%(9,233)
Hispanic / Latino22.9%(5,519)
Asian0.5%(116)
Other1.2%(298)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican18.9%(4,878)
Puerto Rican0.2%(64)
Honduran0.2%(48)
Venezuelan0.1%(19)
Spaniard0.1%(13)
Cuban0%(11)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(89)
Filipino0.1%(34)
Thai0%(7)
Korean0%(1)
Ancestry
Subsaharan African21.9%(5,652)
German8.8%(2,271)
Irish6.9%(1,778)
French4%(1,020)
English3.6%(941)
American2.8%(717)
Polish2.2%(559)
Italian1.4%(370)
Dutch0.8%(202)
Swedish0.7%(185)
Czech0.6%(163)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(119)
Scottish0.4%(108)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(89)
British0.3%(82)
Lithuanian0.3%(82)
Hungarian0.2%(59)
Belgian0.2%(46)
West Indian0.1%(33)
Danish0.1%(30)
Israeli0.1%(24)
Welsh0.1%(18)
Jamaican0.1%(17)
Bulgarian0.1%(13)
Moroccan0%(11)
Russian0%(9)
Slovak0%(9)
Haitian0%(8)
Swiss0%(4)
Serbian0%(2)
Greek0%(1)
Section 05

Education

12.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
76.3%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.0%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

22.3 min
+37%since 2000
from 16.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
76.2%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 71.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
16.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

8.1%
−8.3 ptssince 2011
from 16.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
58.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 62.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.9%
US average: 73.3%
23.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

48.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
51.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
10.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
9.1%
−9.3 ptssince 2013
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.5%
US average: 91.9%
89.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married52.7%(5,064)
Married35.2%(3,385)
Widowed1.6%(158)
Divorced10.5%(1,005)
Women 15+
Never married45.7%(4,220)
Married34.2%(3,158)
Widowed9.1%(840)
Divorced11.1%(1,021)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

9.1%
−9.3 ptssince 2013
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
45.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
10.2%
US average: 13.7%
17.3%
US average: 17.6%
35.6%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
53.2%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
48.1%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)11.8%(140)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)25.4%(301)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era34%(402)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.5%(101)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II3.5%(42)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,184 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 24,052 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kankakee, Illinois?

The typical household in Kankakee, Illinois earns about $38,763 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 $87,000, and the typical rent is about $844 a month.

How educated are people in Kankakee, Illinois?

About 12.8% 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 27.5% 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 3,523 residents, a change of about -13 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 →