Lee County, Illinois Demographics 2026
Lee County, Illinois has a population of 33,869, the 42nd most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $70,292 and the median home value is $154,600. The poverty rate is 11.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Lee County Quick Facts
How Lee 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 | 34,058 | 33,869 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $68,459 | $70,292 | +2.7% |
| Median home value | $155,100 | $154,600 | -0.3% |
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
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Lee County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon | 14,910 | $59,406 | 17.8% | $120,800 |
| Amboy | 2,384 | $68,258 | 13.3% | $134,800 |
| Franklin Grove | 988 | $58,618 | 12.8% | $124,400 |
| Ashton | 935 | $62,778 | 14.5% | $114,200 |
| Paw Paw | 932 | $65,156 | 8.3% | $153,900 |
| Sublette | 454 | $66,250 | 19.8% | $138,300 |
| Lee | 320 | $82,000 | 19.2% | $150,500 |
| Steward | 271 | $102,500 | 2.6% | $148,000 |
| Compton | 259 | $57,500 | 6.6% | $80,800 |
| West Brooklyn | 152 | $76,250 | 3.3% | $85,000 |
| Nelson | 125 | $39,250 | 21.6% | $86,300 |
| Harmon | 100 | $66,250 | 24.0% | $151,800 |
| Nachusa | 82 | $108,438 | 0.0% | $160,000 |
Explore Illinois Rankings
Population Overview
Lee County is located in Illinois with a total population of 33,869. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lee County is 43.1 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lee County is $70,292. This is 16% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.8%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $154,600. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Lee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Lee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.6%. The Black or African American population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 91.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Lee 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 Lee County, Illinois?
Lee County has a population of 33,869, making it the 42nd most populous county in Illinois.
What is the median income in Lee County?
The median household income in Lee County is $70,292 with a poverty rate of 11.8%.
How many cities are in Lee County, Illinois?
Lee County contains 13 Census-designated places.