Whiteside County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Whiteside County is located in Illinois with a total population of 55,192. It is the 24th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Whiteside County is 43.4 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Whiteside County is $64,536. This is 21% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.1%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $125,800. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Whiteside County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Whiteside County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.1%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

20.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% lower 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 91.0%.