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COUNTY

Lee County

Illinois · 32,914 residents (2025 est.) · 724.769 sq mi
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The short version

Lee County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,292. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $154,600. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% 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
33,869
−6%since 2000
from 36,062 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
47 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 48 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.1
+14%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:32,914 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
34K34K35K36K36K1990201020202024Lee County
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(1,598)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(1,633)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.5%(2,203)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(1,809)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(1,661)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.4%(4,553)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(4,294)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(3,981)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.5%(4,910)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412%(4,076)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.4%(2,153)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.9%(998)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,292
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,967 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,945
+93%since 2000
from $18,650 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.8%
+18.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
+4%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$154,600
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$894
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.9% in 2000
26.4% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 34.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
−2%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
23
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(32,643)
Black4.9%(1,753)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,147)
Asian0.6%(202)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.4%(28,257)
Black5.3%(1,795)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(2,564)
Asian0.7%(243)
Other3%(1,010)
Diversity Score
37
+55%since 2009
from 24 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
19
−34%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.1%(1,711)
Puerto Rican1.1%(374)
Dominican0.2%(60)
Chilean0.1%(35)
Cuban0.1%(23)
Salvadoran0.1%(22)
Guatemalan0.1%(19)
Colombian0.1%(17)
Argentine0%(14)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(83)
Thai0.2%(56)
Korean0.1%(33)
Asian Indian0.1%(26)
Chinese0%(15)
Japanese0%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(27)
Chamorro0.1%(23)
Ancestry
German28.2%(9,563)
Irish15.3%(5,192)
English11.4%(3,861)
Polish4.1%(1,382)
American3.8%(1,274)
Italian3.2%(1,087)
Swedish2.5%(838)
French2.2%(760)
Dutch1.9%(631)
Norwegian1.6%(531)
Scottish1.3%(451)
Ukrainian1.1%(375)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
British0.7%(228)
Hungarian0.6%(208)
Danish0.5%(159)
Czech0.5%(154)
Welsh0.4%(152)
Russian0.4%(143)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(141)
Belgian0.4%(138)
Swiss0.3%(111)
Greek0.3%(93)
Arab0.2%(65)
Lebanese0.2%(63)
West Indian0.1%(43)
Bulgarian0.1%(37)
Finnish0.1%(30)
Lithuanian0.1%(26)
Austrian0.1%(21)
Iranian0.1%(21)
Israeli0.1%(21)
Portuguese0.1%(21)
Jamaican0.1%(20)
Canadian0%(15)
Slovak0%(15)
Serbian0%(7)
Latvian0%(5)
Haitian0%(4)
Slovene0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.2%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+55%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.7%
−7.4 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.3%
−25.4 ptssince 2009
from 58.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
47.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−44.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2012
from 12.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.8%
−85.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.4%
+11.0 ptssince 2017
from 76.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 94.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married38.3%(5,835)
Married47.1%(7,177)
Widowed2.9%(445)
Divorced11.7%(1,775)
Women 15+
Never married27%(3,569)
Married50%(6,600)
Widowed12.6%(1,660)
Divorced10.4%(1,374)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lee County

Bureau County
Pop 32,510
Haralson County
Pop 33,066
White County
Pop 29,802
Peach County
Pop 29,877
Places similar to Lee County
Head to head

Compare Lee County to nearby counties

LEE COUNTY VS
Ogle County
Income$82,132+17%
Home value$189,200+22%
Population51,399+56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Bureau County
Income$69,257−1%
Home value$126,900−18%
Population32,510−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
DeKalb County
Income$70,724+1%
Home value$243,600+58%
Population101,835+209%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Whiteside County
Income$67,500−4%
Home value$127,100−18%
Population54,121+64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lee County, Illinois?

Lee County, Illinois has about 33,869 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lee County, Illinois?

The typical household in Lee County, Illinois earns about $70,292 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lee County, Illinois expensive?

In Lee County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $154,600, and the typical rent is about $894 a month.

How educated are people in Lee County, Illinois?

About 19.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lee County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lee County, Illinois?

About 11.8% of people in Lee County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lee County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Lee County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 523 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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9 census tracts
Census Tract 4Census Tract 5Census Tract 3Census Tract 8Census Tract 2Census Tract 6Census Tract 9Census Tract 1Census Tract 7
14 ZIP codes
ZIP 61021ZIP 61310ZIP 61006ZIP 61031ZIP 61353ZIP 60530ZIP 61367ZIP 60553ZIP 61318ZIP 61378ZIP 61042ZIP 61324ZIP 61057ZIP 61331
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →