Boone County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Boone County is located in Illinois with a total population of 53,316. It is the 25th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Boone County is 39.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Boone County is $81,638. This is about average than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $198,600. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Boone County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Boone County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.9%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

23.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower 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 85.6%.