Aurora city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Aurora city is a major urban center located in Illinois. The total population is 179,867. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Aurora city is 35.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Aurora city is $90,109. This is 10% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $260,400. Housing costs are 4% higher than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Aurora city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Aurora city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 32.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (42.8% vs 18.5%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (10.9% vs 5.8%).

Education

37.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about average than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Aurora city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.