Lake County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Illinois with a total population of 711,885. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 38.9 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $108,917. This is 33% higher than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 39% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.1%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $326,600. Housing costs are 30% higher than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 74.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 24.4%. The Black or African American population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 13.6%.

Education

46.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lake County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 26% higher 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 90.6%. Notably, 19.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.