Stephenson County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Name: Stephenson County, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Stephenson County, Illinois has a population of 43,768, the 33rd most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $64,043 and the median home value is $134,900. The poverty rate is 13.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Stephenson County Quick Facts

Population 43,768

Median Household Income $64,043

Median Home Value $134,900

Poverty Rate 13.9%

Unemployment Rate 4.3%

Median Age 45.3 years

Homeownership Rate 70.9%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.7%

High School Graduation 92.6%

Cities/Places 12

Population 43,768 33rd of 102

Median Income $64,043 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.9%

Unemployment 4.3%

How Stephenson 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	44,042	43,768	-0.6%
Median household income	$61,943	$64,043	+3.4%
Median home value	$127,500	$134,900	+5.8%

Median Household Income

Stephenson

$64,043

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Stephenson

$134,900

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.6%

$25K-$50K 21.0%

$50K-$100K 32.7%

$100K+ 28.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.7%

$10K-$15K

3.2%

$15K-$20K

4.3%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

4.0%

$30K-$35K

4.7%

$35K-$40K

4.1%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

4.3%

$50K-$60K

7.8%

$60K-$75K

11.0%

$75K-$100K

13.9%

$100K-$125K

9.9%

$125K-$150K

8.9%

$150K-$200K

5.0%

$200K+

4.9%

Employment

4.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

60.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.9%

Renter 29.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $798/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.2%

18-34

17.9%

35-54

21.9%

55-74

28.6%

75+

10.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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 Stephenson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Freeport	23,505	$51,723	19.6%	$92,100
Lena	2,761	$72,663	3.1%	$146,000
Orangeville	1,045	$69,464	10.8%	$152,700
Willow Lake	764	$100,568	6.4%	$162,200
Pearl City	745	$63,295	6.6%	$128,200
Cedarville	690	$67,569	10.9%	$125,700
Dakota	645	$55,815	14.5%	$115,600
Davis	535	$62,050	6.9%	$142,700
German Valley	467	$73,661	6.6%	$130,300
Rock City	441	$68,125	4.5%	$122,700
Winslow	338	$55,156	27.8%	$111,800
Ridott	130	$71,875	11.6%	$126,000

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Stephenson County is located in Illinois with a total population of 43,768. It is the 33rd most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Stephenson County is 45.3 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.3% 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 Stephenson County is $64,043. This is 23% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $134,900. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Stephenson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Stephenson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 92.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Stephenson 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 Stephenson County, Illinois?

Stephenson County has a population of 43,768, making it the 33rd most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Stephenson County?

The median household income in Stephenson County is $64,043 with a poverty rate of 13.9%.

How many cities are in Stephenson County, Illinois?

Stephenson County contains 12 Census-designated places.