McLean County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

McLean County is located in Illinois with a total population of 170,882. It is the 13th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in McLean County is 34.2 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McLean County is $78,329. This is 4% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $198,300. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, McLean County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in McLean County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 18.5%.

Education

46.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places McLean 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 95.8%. Notably, 15.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.