Willow Springs, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Willow Springs is a small city located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 5,868. It ranks as the 307th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Willow Springs is 42.7 years. This is 9% 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 Willow Springs is $103,583. This is 24% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 28% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.1%. This is 65% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $378,300. Housing costs are 44% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 84.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Willow Springs is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.2%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

37.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as 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 94.8%. Notably, 15.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Willow Springs, 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.