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COUNTY

Stephenson County

Illinois · 43,220 residents (2025 est.) · 564.247 sq mi
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The short version

Stephenson County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,043. Population has declined 11% 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 $134,900. With a median age of 45.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 8%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
43,768
−11%since 2000
from 48,979 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
78 / sq mi
−7%since 2009
from 83 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.3
+18%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:43,220 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
43K45K46K48K50K1990201020202024Stephenson County
202444K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(2,304)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(2,365)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.7%(2,947)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.8%(2,526)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(2,421)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.5%(4,580)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.6%(4,621)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.3%(4,950)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(6,383)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.1%(6,152)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.6%(2,869)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.8%(1,650)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,043
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,366 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,305
+78%since 2000
from $19,794 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.6%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.420
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$134,900
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$798
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $433 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.8% in 2000
29.1% rent
Vacancy rate
9.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.0%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
−11%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
21
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Stephenson County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.6%(43,404)
Black7.6%(3,732)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(747)
Asian0.7%(332)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.9%(34,544)
Black8.5%(3,701)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(2,457)
Asian0.8%(361)
Other6.2%(2,705)
Diversity Score
45
+54%since 2009
from 29 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
39
−23%since 2020
from 51 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
Mexican4.2%(1,848)
Puerto Rican0.6%(269)
Colombian0.2%(108)
Peruvian0.2%(90)
Cuban0.1%(27)
Dominican0%(20)
Spaniard0%(16)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(119)
Asian Indian0.2%(73)
Chinese0.2%(68)
Vietnamese0.1%(32)
Korean0.1%(29)
Thai0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(3)
Ancestry
German36.8%(16,128)
Irish13%(5,688)
English10.1%(4,434)
American3.1%(1,368)
Italian3.1%(1,340)
Dutch2.8%(1,222)
Swedish2.6%(1,132)
Polish2.2%(966)
Swiss2.2%(959)
Norwegian2.1%(924)
French1.2%(514)
Scottish1.1%(469)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.5%(224)
Lithuanian0.4%(194)
British0.4%(189)
Czech0.4%(174)
Welsh0.4%(171)
Finnish0.3%(141)
Russian0.3%(130)
Danish0.3%(118)
Greek0.2%(83)
Belgian0.2%(69)
Hungarian0.1%(59)
Guyanese0.1%(46)
Austrian0.1%(45)
Ukrainian0.1%(30)
Portuguese0.1%(27)
Serbian0.1%(23)
Nigerian0.1%(23)
Croatian0.1%(22)
Arab0%(21)
Bulgarian0%(13)
Romanian0%(11)
Slovak0%(11)
Lebanese0%(10)
Haitian0%(4)
Iraqi0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.7%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 84.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.7 min
+50%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.3%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 64.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.7%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−40.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−84.1 ptssince 2013
from 89.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.5%
+11.1 ptssince 2017
from 75.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 96.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.7%(5,697)
Married54%(9,413)
Widowed3%(527)
Divorced10.2%(1,780)
Women 15+
Never married27.3%(5,108)
Married49.5%(9,266)
Widowed10.3%(1,925)
Divorced13%(2,436)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Stephenson County to nearby counties

STEPHENSON COUNTY VS
Green County
Income$82,852+29%
Home value$250,200+85%
Population37,227−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEPHENSON COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income$60,758−5%
Home value$114,500−15%
Population15,419−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEPHENSON COUNTY VS
Winnebago County
Income$65,837+3%
Home value$164,500+22%
Population283,674+556%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEPHENSON COUNTY VS
Ogle County
Income$82,132+28%
Home value$189,200+40%
Population51,399+19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Stephenson County, Illinois?

Stephenson County, Illinois has about 43,768 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Stephenson County, Illinois earns about $64,043 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Stephenson County, Illinois expensive?

In Stephenson County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $134,900, and the typical rent is about $798 a month.

How educated are people in Stephenson County, Illinois?

About 20.7% of adults age 25 and over in Stephenson County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Stephenson County, Illinois?

About 13.9% of people in Stephenson County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Stephenson County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Stephenson County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,284 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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13 census tracts
Census Tract 1Census Tract 10Census Tract 9Census Tract 12Census Tract 3Census Tract 13Census Tract 8Census Tract 11Census Tract 2Census Tract 5Census Tract 6Census Tract 4Census Tract 7
14 ZIP codes
ZIP 61032ZIP 61048ZIP 61019ZIP 61062ZIP 61060ZIP 61070ZIP 61018ZIP 61039ZIP 61013ZIP 61089ZIP 61067ZIP 61044ZIP 61050ZIP 61027
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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