Winnebago County, Illinois Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Winnebago County, Illinois, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Winnebago County, Illinois. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Winnebago County, Illinois. The estimated population of Winnebago County, Illinois is 285,471 people, with a median age of 39.6.

We can look at the total population in Winnebago County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
285,471
+0.65%
-0.71%
2020
283,635
 -0.42% -
2019
284,819
 -0.47% -
2018
286,174
 -0.47% -
2017
287,512
 - -

Population of Winnebago County, Illinois by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
67.2%
70.2%
 -4.27%
Black/African American
12.8%
12.4%
 +3.23%
Native
0.1%
0.1%
 0.00%
Hispanic
13.5%
12.2%
 +10.66%
Asian
2.8%
2.5%
 +12.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
3.4%
2.4%
 +41.67%
Other
0.2%
0.2%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Winnebago County, Illinois by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 39.6 -0.5% 38.8 +0.52% 40.4 -0.98%
2020 39.8 +0.25% 38.6 +0.52% 40.8 0%
2019 39.7 +0.25% 38.4 +0.26% 40.8 +0.25%
2018 39.6 0% 38.3 0% 40.7 -0.25%
2017 39.6 - 38.3 - 40.8 -

The median age of Winnebago County, Illinois gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 18,965 -3.66% 17,871 -2.15% 18,274 17,481
10 to 19 19,298 +2.27% 18,665 -0.7% 19,737 18,531
20 to 29 17,676 -1.52% 18,044 -1.36% 17,407 17,800
30 to 39 17,032 -3.55% 17,382 +4.76% 16,430 18,218
40 to 49 18,054 -2.76% 18,786 -11.65% 17,549 16,690
50 to 59 19,860 -5.33% 20,661 -4.7% 18,807 19,699
60 to 69 16,271 +9.3% 17,493 +2.12% 17,830 17,841
70+ 13,298 +5.73% 18,156 +5.19% 14,075 19,102

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Winnebago County, Illinois is $57,779.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Winnebago County.

  • Under 25
    $37,868.00
  • 25 to 44
    $61,049.00
  • 45 to 64
    $68,858.00
  • 65 and over
    $45,696.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Winnebago County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Winnebago County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Winnebago County, Illinois is currently $75,845.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

4.52% of households in Winnebago County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Winnebago County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    20.69%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    22.98%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    18.77%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.34%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    14.75%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.94%
  • $200,000 or more
    4.52%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Winnebago County is $31,134.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Winnebago County by the total population of Winnebago County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Winnebago County, Illinois, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Winnebago County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    10.77%
  • Bachelor's degree
    26.22%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    15.79%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    44.10%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.12%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Winnebago County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Winnebago County over the age of 16 is 225,859.

Of those people, a total of 63.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Winnebago County is 58.10%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 14,411 48.00% 22.90%
20 to 24 years 16,976 76.10% 10.00%
25 to 29 years 18,231 85.80% 8.00%
30 to 34 years 17,367 84.20% 10.00%
35 to 44 years 33,804 83.20% 6.50%
45 to 54 years 36,094 83.00% 6.60%
55 to 59 years 20,128 73.40% 5.40%
60 to 64 years 18,913 58.40% 5.60%
65 to 74 years 29,610 25.00% 4.30%
75 years and over 20,325 5.30% 4.10%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Winnebago County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 175,360 62.60% 6.30%
Black or African American 27,575 64.30% 16.80%
American Indian and Alaska Native 679 70.10% 3.60%
Asian 6,145 66.60% 6.60%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 100 82.00% 0.00%
Other 6,511 70.30% 8.70%
Two or more races 9,489 60.50% 11.20%
Hispanic or Latino 25,646 71.00% 8.20%
Not Hispanic or Latino 161,353 61.70% 6.10%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Winnebago County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Winnebago County is 131,247, with median earnings of $37,605.00.

Women in Winnebago County, Illinois earning approximately 69.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 131,247 $37,605.00
Male 68,425 $44,668.00
Female 62,822 $31,232.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 10,876 $70,725.00
Business and Financial 5,443 $60,711.00
Computer and Mathematical 2,448 $60,536.00
Architecture and Engineering 3,128 $74,401.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 590 $58,387.00
Community and Social Service 2,216 $41,098.00
Legal 886 $64,764.00
Educational and Library 6,260 $41,682.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 1,679 $30,907.00
Healthcare Practitioners 8,211 $60,978.00
Healthcare Support 5,580 $22,038.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 933 $34,525.00
Law Enforcement 811 $70,389.00
Food Preparation and Serving 6,910 $13,262.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 4,506 $18,451.00
Personal Care and Service 3,951 $17,370.00
Sales 12,330 $32,264.00
Office and Administrative Support 14,984 $33,549.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 254 $16,346.00
Construction and Extraction 5,711 $44,565.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 4,219 $54,703.00
Production 16,989 $37,855.00
Transportation and Material Moving 5,117 $33,442.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 6,516 $81,350.00 4,360 $59,667.00
Business and Financial 2,127 $70,590.00 3,316 $55,549.00
Computer and Mathematical 1,774 $67,544.00 674 $55,633.00
Architecture and Engineering 2,766 $78,225.00 362 $56,042.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 392 $61,000.00 198 $55,588.00
Community and Social Service 953 $41,745.00 1,263 $40,788.00
Legal 372 $116,875.00 514 $45,515.00
Educational and Library 1,656 $44,607.00 4,604 $39,755.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 763 $39,957.00 916 $22,778.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,615 $91,233.00 6,596 $56,293.00
Healthcare Support 443 $21,676.00 5,137 $22,123.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 677 $43,287.00 256 $8,864.00
Law Enforcement 645 $72,158.00 166 $56,356.00
Food Preparation and Serving 3,060 $13,026.00 3,850 $13,416.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 2,540 $20,873.00 1,966 $16,069.00
Personal Care and Service 539 $21,949.00 3,412 $17,015.00
Sales 6,679 $46,270.00 5,651 $18,591.00
Office and Administrative Support 3,474 $39,149.00 11,510 $32,528.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 175 $21,908.00 79 $12,434.00
Construction and Extraction 5,608 $44,657.00 103 $32,917.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 3,959 $55,880.00 260 $36,513.00
Production 12,630 $41,583.00 4,359 $30,029.00
Transportation and Material Moving 4,113 $37,525.00 1,004 $21,968.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 115,240 households in Winnebago County, with an average household size of 2.44 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 73,665 families in Winnebago County with an average family size of 3.03 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 51,203 6,066 16,396 41,575
Average Household Size 3.06 3.18 3.36 1.21
Total Families 51,203 6,066 16,396 0
Average Household Size 3.04 2.74 3.11 0

Poverty

Of the 73,665 families in Winnebago County, 11.80% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Winnebago County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 125,111 housing units in Winnebago County, Illinois.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 115,240 92.11%
Vacant 9,871 7.89%

30.07% of the total 125,111 housing units in Winnebago County are rental units. This is approximately 37,622 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 75,859 are occupied by the owner - or 60.63% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Winnebago County is $865.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Winnebago County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    1,759
  • Less than $500
    4,303
  • $500 to $999
    19,851
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    10,904
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    1,831
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    474
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    73
  • $3,000 or more
    186

Property Value

The median value of a property in Winnebago County is $125,900.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Winnebago County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    6,706
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    20,092
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    20,367
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    14,895
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    9,642
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    3,035
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    992
  • $1,000,000 or more
    130

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Winnebago County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Winnebago County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    19,036
  • 1940 to 1949
    7,513
  • 1950 to 1959
    17,915
  • 1960 to 1969
    17,143
  • 1970 to 1979
    19,380
  • 1980 to 1989
    12,291
  • 1990 to 1999
    15,737
  • 2000 to 2009
    13,935
  • 2010 to 2013
    2,081
  • 2014 or later
    80

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Winnebago County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    9,828
  • 1 vehicle available
    38,308
  • 2 vehicles available
    44,050
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    23,054

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Winnebago County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Winnebago County that commute to work in a particular way.

23.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Winnebago County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    3,575
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    13,284
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    21,409
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    24,140
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    19,677
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    8,250
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    13,860
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    1,734
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    2,199
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    4,887
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    4,529
  • 90 or more minutes
    3,498

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Winnebago County, Illinois in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Winnebago County, Illinois

We have data for 17 places in Winnebago County, Illinois. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.