CensusEasy
CITY

Oswego

Illinois · 39,948 residents (2025 est.) · 15.198 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chicago metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#272Lowest poverty rateof 6,8232.6%
The short version

Oswego is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $123,792. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 23,049 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $344,500. Poverty is rare here, at 2.6% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 48% more than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,375
+173%since 2000
from 13,326 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,393 / sq mi
+173%since 2000
from 877 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.7
+18%since 2000
from 32.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:39,948 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
62610K20K30K40K1990201020202024Oswego
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$123,792
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,502 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$47,866
+76%since 2000
from $27,204 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
73.0%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 62.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.343
+7%since 2010
from 0.320 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$344,500
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $170,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,860
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $737 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
87.9%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 92.3% in 2000
12.1% rent
Vacancy rate
1.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.1%
−14.8 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
68.5%
+24.6 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+17%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
28
RELATED:See current rent listings in Oswego on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(12,079)
Black1.8%(236)
Hispanic / Latino5%(665)
Asian1.4%(183)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.4%(2,580)
2024
White, non-Hispanic62.4%(22,713)
Black10.1%(3,689)
Hispanic / Latino17.9%(6,507)
Asian4.4%(1,612)
Other5.1%(1,854)
Diversity Score70.4%(25,611)
Diversity Score
70
+264%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
44.3%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 33.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 93.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.6%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.5 min
+25%since 2000
from 25.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.4%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 84.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.5%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.6%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 76.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.0%
−20.0 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
51.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
14.3%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−44.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 5.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.0%
−91.6 ptssince 2013
from 94.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2017
from 97.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.1%
−7.1 ptssince 2016
from 84.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 10.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Oswego

Lakewood Ranch
Pop 43,945
Oviedo
Pop 41,317
Apollo Beach
Pop 33,355
The Acreage
Pop 40,843
Places similar to Oswego
Head to head

Compare Oswego to nearby cities

OSWEGO VS
Boulder Hill
Income$80,377−35%
Home value$238,700−31%
Population8,989−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OSWEGO VS
Montgomery
Income$103,734−16%
Home value$299,500−13%
Population21,978−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OSWEGO VS
Yorkville
Income$108,513−12%
Home value$335,300−3%
Population26,730−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OSWEGO VS
Plainfield
Income$144,000+16%
Home value$431,400+25%
Population50,043+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Oswego, Illinois?

Oswego, Illinois has about 36,375 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Oswego, Illinois?

The typical household in Oswego, Illinois earns about $123,792 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Oswego, Illinois expensive?

In Oswego, Illinois, the median home is worth about $344,500, and the typical rent is about $1,860 a month.

How educated are people in Oswego, Illinois?

About 44.3% of adults age 25 and over in Oswego, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Oswego, Illinois?

About 2.6% of people in Oswego, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Oswego, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Oswego, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 32,499 residents, a change of about 838 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Oswego with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →