Winnebago County, Illinois Demographics 2026
Winnebago County, Illinois has a population of 283,292, the 7th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $65,837 and the median home value is $164,500. The poverty rate is 15.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Winnebago County Quick Facts
How Winnebago 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 | 283,289 | 283,292 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $64,363 | $65,837 | +2.3% |
| Median home value | $155,100 | $164,500 | +6.1% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Winnebago County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | 147,521 | $54,752 | 21.3% | $129,000 |
| Loves Park | 23,502 | $61,868 | 14.4% | $160,400 |
| Machesney Park | 22,630 | $75,489 | 13.7% | $173,700 |
| Roscoe | 10,706 | $93,036 | 5.5% | $227,800 |
| Rockton | 7,974 | $119,058 | 5.5% | $235,400 |
| South Beloit | 7,946 | $78,616 | 8.0% | $173,000 |
| Cherry Valley | 3,749 | $74,655 | 8.3% | $232,800 |
| Winnebago | 2,981 | $92,614 | 6.6% | $194,000 |
| Lake Summerset | 2,364 | $108,355 | 3.0% | $237,300 |
| Pecatonica | 2,024 | $73,162 | 7.0% | $143,900 |
| Durand | 1,592 | $65,688 | 7.0% | $135,500 |
| Westlake Village | 1,414 | $116,563 | 2.1% | $239,200 |
| New Milford | 1,194 | $76,458 | 20.3% | $132,500 |
| Argyle | 324 | $139,632 | 0.0% | $277,400 |
Explore Illinois Rankings
Population Overview
Winnebago County is located in Illinois with a total population of 283,292. It is the 7th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Winnebago County is 39.6 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Winnebago County is $65,837. This is 21% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $164,500. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Winnebago County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Winnebago County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.5%. The Asian population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
25.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 88.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Winnebago 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 Winnebago County, Illinois?
Winnebago County has a population of 283,292, making it the 7th most populous county in Illinois.
What is the median income in Winnebago County?
The median household income in Winnebago County is $65,837 with a poverty rate of 15.6%.
How many cities are in Winnebago County, Illinois?
Winnebago County contains 14 Census-designated places.