Kankakee County, Illinois Demographics 2026
Kankakee County, Illinois has a population of 106,635, the 18th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $71,281 and the median home value is $192,600. The poverty rate is 12.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Kankakee County Quick Facts
How Kankakee County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 106,833 | 106,635 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $68,325 | $71,281 | +4.3% |
| Median home value | $185,700 | $192,600 | +3.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Kankakee County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee | 23,996 | $47,514 | 25.5% | $104,900 |
| Bourbonnais | 18,078 | $81,708 | 9.5% | $253,100 |
| Bradley | 15,325 | $67,420 | 7.7% | $173,400 |
| Manteno | 9,030 | $97,634 | 3.5% | $248,400 |
| Momence | 3,291 | $58,365 | 10.1% | $154,800 |
| Grant Park | 1,449 | $78,385 | 9.0% | $215,800 |
| Limestone | 1,419 | $103,906 | 4.7% | $212,200 |
| Herscher | 1,246 | $91,667 | 12.2% | $197,600 |
| St. Anne | 1,104 | $83,077 | 5.3% | $154,900 |
| Essex | 1,026 | $108,250 | 3.8% | $228,200 |
| Chebanse | 920 | $65,278 | 1.5% | $161,500 |
| Aroma Park | 655 | $78,500 | 12.1% | $157,200 |
| Sun River Terrace | 636 | $65,481 | 45.2% | $125,000 |
| Hopkins Park | 627 | $30,660 | 30.6% | $91,700 |
| Bonfield | 473 | $91,250 | 2.8% | $195,100 |
| Buckingham | 308 | $85,938 | 2.9% | $129,200 |
| Cabery | 235 | $48,750 | 23.8% | $107,600 |
| Sammons Point | 223 | $62,250 | 8.5% | $168,800 |
| Reddick | 202 | $84,063 | 7.5% | $154,500 |
| Irwin | 78 | $102,750 | 3.9% | $160,900 |
| Union Hill | 73 | $112,500 | 2.8% | $158,300 |
Explore Illinois Rankings
Population Overview
Kankakee County is located in Illinois with a total population of 106,635. It is the 18th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 21 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Kankakee County is 39.0 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Kankakee County is $71,281. This is 15% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $192,600. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Kankakee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Kankakee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.3%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
21.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Kankakee County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Kankakee County, Illinois?
Kankakee County has a population of 106,635, making it the 18th most populous county in Illinois.
What is the median income in Kankakee County?
The median household income in Kankakee County is $71,281 with a poverty rate of 12.2%.
How many cities are in Kankakee County, Illinois?
Kankakee County contains 21 Census-designated places.