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CITY

Waukegan

Illinois · 87,940 residents (2025 est.) · 24.217 sq mi
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The short version

Waukegan has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,919. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $190,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 12%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
89,076
+1%since 2000
from 87,901 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,678 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 3,733 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.5
+22%since 2000
from 29.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:87,940 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
67K74K80K86K92K1990201020202024Waukegan
202489K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(4,468)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.2%(6,404)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(5,574)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(6,308)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.2%(7,296)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.7%(13,969)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.8%(12,333)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(11,162)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.1%(10,792)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(7,137)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.2%(2,840)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.9%(793)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,919
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,335 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,249
+91%since 2000
from $17,368 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.3%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.440
+7%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$190,900
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $118,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,205
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $647 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.2%
−6.3 ptssince 2000
from 56.5% in 2000
49.8% rent
Vacancy rate
3.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.3%
−23.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
−22%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
36
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waukegan on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic30.9%(27,186)
Black18.6%(16,354)
Hispanic / Latino44.8%(39,396)
Asian3.5%(3,092)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic16.7%(14,914)
Black16.6%(14,749)
Hispanic / Latino57.9%(51,565)
Asian5.4%(4,836)
Other3.4%(3,012)
Diversity Score
76
−5%since 2009
from 80 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican44.8%(39,880)
Central American5.1%(4,574)
Puerto Rican3.5%(3,146)
Honduran3.4%(2,991)
South American1.6%(1,443)
Salvadoran1.1%(974)
Dominican0.4%(393)
Guatemalan0.4%(359)
Colombian0.4%(344)
Cuban0.4%(343)
Ecuadorian0.4%(320)
Spaniard0.4%(316)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Argentine0.3%(265)
Peruvian0.3%(226)
Nicaraguan0.3%(224)
Venezuelan0.1%(129)
Bolivian0.1%(96)
Chilean0.1%(63)
Asian origin
Filipino2.8%(2,467)
Asian Indian1.6%(1,469)
Chinese0.4%(335)
Korean0.2%(146)
Vietnamese0.1%(80)
Thai0.1%(58)
Cambodian0.1%(48)
Japanese0%(30)
Pakistani0%(28)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German4.7%(4,231)
Irish3.6%(3,193)
Italian2.6%(2,303)
American2.5%(2,268)
English2.2%(1,992)
Polish1.5%(1,296)
West Indian1.4%(1,259)
Norwegian0.7%(639)
Swedish0.7%(581)
Scottish0.6%(540)
Jamaican0.4%(380)
+ 43 more ancestry groups with data
French0.4%(344)
British0.4%(318)
Slovene0.3%(254)
Greek0.3%(242)
Arab0.2%(219)
Finnish0.2%(202)
Romanian0.2%(197)
Ghanaian0.2%(182)
Armenian0.2%(177)
Nigerian0.2%(167)
Palestinian0.2%(152)
Lithuanian0.2%(146)
Russian0.2%(144)
Czech0.2%(139)
Dutch0.1%(130)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(127)
Portuguese0.1%(122)
Haitian0.1%(115)
Croatian0.1%(113)
Ukrainian0.1%(92)
Austrian0.1%(88)
Jordanian0.1%(85)
Hungarian0.1%(85)
Slovak0.1%(85)
Welsh0.1%(72)
Iranian0.1%(54)
Swiss0.1%(50)
Guyanese0.1%(49)
Danish0.1%(46)
Kenyan0%(41)
Belgian0%(34)
Brazilian0%(30)
Bulgarian0%(29)
Egyptian0%(21)
Israeli0%(16)
Canadian0%(15)
Moroccan0%(14)
Ethiopian0%(13)
Lebanese0%(12)
Serbian0%(12)
Latvian0%(11)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Central American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Puerto Rican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
75.3%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 66.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+43%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 70.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 70.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.1%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Female
49.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Foreign born
31.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 33.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.9%
−47.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
16.0%
−61.9 ptssince 2013
from 77.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.0%
+11.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
45.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2016
from 44.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
47.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2016
from 50.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married47.1%(17,610)
Married43.1%(16,116)
Widowed2.2%(814)
Divorced7.7%(2,885)
Women 15+
Never married39.7%(13,985)
Married43.2%(15,215)
Widowed6.4%(2,236)
Divorced10.7%(3,769)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Waukegan, Illinois?

Waukegan, Illinois has about 89,076 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waukegan, Illinois?

The typical household in Waukegan, Illinois earns about $71,919 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waukegan, Illinois expensive?

In Waukegan, Illinois, the median home is worth about $190,900, and the typical rent is about $1,205 a month.

How educated are people in Waukegan, Illinois?

About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Waukegan, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waukegan, Illinois?

About 15.3% of people in Waukegan, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waukegan, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Waukegan, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 19,684 residents, a change of about 28 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 →