Winnebago County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Winnebago County is located in Illinois with a total population of 283,289. It is the 7th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Winnebago County is 39.7 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Winnebago County is $64,363. 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 16.0%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 7.2%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $155,100. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Winnebago 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 Winnebago County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.0%. The Asian population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 88.6%.