Lost Nation, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 714, Lost Nation's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Lost Nation is a small community located in Illinois, within Ogle County. The total population is 714. It ranks as the 811th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lost Nation is 57.6 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 9.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 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 Lost Nation is $108,964. This is 31% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 35% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 63% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Lost Nation, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $236,300. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Lost Nation is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Lost Nation was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

38.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% 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 97.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lost Nation, 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.