Lake of the Woods, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lake of the Woods is a small community located in Illinois, within Champaign County. The total population is 2,091. It ranks as the 496th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake of the Woods is 37.9 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 31.1% of the population under 18, Lake of the Woods has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 12.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake of the Woods is $61,625. This is 26% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.7%. This is 60% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $193,500. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 86.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lake of the Woods has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.6% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

38.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 1% higher 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 96.3%. Notably, 16.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lake of the Woods, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.