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METRO AREA

Kankakee Metro

Kankakee, IL · 1 counties · 105,525 residents (2025 est.) · 676.49 sq mi
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The short version

Kankakee has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,281. 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 more than doubled since 2000, reaching $192,600. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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
106,635
+3%since 2000
from 103,833 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
158 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 153 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.0
+11%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:105,525 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
95K100K105K110K115K1990201020202024Kankakee
2024107K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,281
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,532 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,825
+93%since 2000
from $19,055 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.1%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
+7%since 2010
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$192,600
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,097
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $539 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
30.1% rent
Vacancy rate
9.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+17%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
12
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kankakee on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77.8%(80,829)
Black15.4%(15,942)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(4,959)
Asian0.7%(699)
Other0%
Diversity Score43.8%(45,514)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic68%(72,459)
Black14.3%(15,220)
Hispanic / Latino12.7%(13,523)
Asian1%(1,048)
Other4.1%(4,385)
Diversity Score62.5%(66,651)
Segregation Score41.5%(44,298)
Diversity Score
63
+43%since 2000
from 44 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−3%since 2020
from 43 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.2%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.6%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.9 min
+45%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 64.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.5%
−29.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−41.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−82.1 ptssince 2013
from 87.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.0%
+14.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2016
from 7.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

KankakeeCENTRAL23,400
What's inside

1 component county

Kankakee CountyCENTRAL105,525
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Kankakee

Brainerd
Pop 100,562
Grand Forks
Pop 105,046
Ithaca
Pop 104,047
Fond du Lac
Pop 104,669
Places similar to Kankakee
Head to head

Compare Kankakee side by side

KANKAKEE VS
Brainerd
Income$71,422same
Home value$300,990+56%
Population100,562−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KANKAKEE VS
Grand Forks
Income$69,566−2%
Home value$243,841+27%
Population105,046same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KANKAKEE VS
Ithaca
Income$74,024+4%
Home value$290,900+51%
Population104,047−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KANKAKEE VS
Fond du Lac
Income$74,275+4%
Home value$222,800+16%
Population104,669−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kankakee, IL?

Kankakee, IL has about 106,635 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kankakee, IL?

The typical household in Kankakee, IL earns about $71,281 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kankakee, IL expensive?

In Kankakee, IL, the median home is worth about $192,600, and the typical rent is about $1,097 a month.

How educated are people in Kankakee, IL?

About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Kankakee, IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kankakee, IL?

About 12.2% of people in Kankakee, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kankakee, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Kankakee, IL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,380 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →