Bureau County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Bureau County is located in Illinois with a total population of 33,027. It is the 45th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bureau County is 44.1 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bureau County is $65,894. This is 19% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 16% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $121,900. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Bureau County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bureau County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.8%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

21.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 91.0%.