Township · Illinois
Benton Township, Lake County, Illinois
Benton Township, Lake County, township, in Lake County, Illinois. Benton Township, Lake County had 18,769 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 19,082 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 18,857 (±39). GEOID 1709705326.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
18,769
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,082 · ACS 2020-2024: 18,857 ±39
Median household income
$82,995
±$6,115 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$249,800
±$14,081 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$1,332
±$74 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Benton Township, Lake County and what county is it in?
Benton Township, Lake County is a township in Lake County, Illinois. It covers 14.2 square miles of land, 1,346 residents per square mile in 2020.
2 places lie inside Benton Township (Lake County): Beach Park (village, 14,249 in 2020) and Winthrop Harbor (village, 6,705 in 2020). Part of Waukegan (city) and Wadsworth (village) also lie in it.
Benton Township, Lake County is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Benton Township, Lake County, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 18,769 people lived in Benton Township, Lake County on July 1, 2025, down 1.0% since 2020, in line with Illinois (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 19,082 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 18,857 (±39).
| Measure | Benton Township, Lake County | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 18,857±39 | 714,223 | −77 |
| Households | 7,821±520 | 258,455 | +955 |
| Average household size | 2.41±0.16 | 2.69 | −0.34 |
| Housing units | 8,072±535 | 270,618 | +747 |
Benton Township, Lake County's population since 2000
From 17,413 in 2000 to 18,769 in 2025: up 7.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Benton Township, Lake County as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Benton Township, Lake County?
The median resident of Benton Township, Lake County is 47.3 years old; 18.2% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 50.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 34.2%. 15.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Benton Township, Lake County | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3±4.6 | 39.1 | +8.2 |
| Under 18 years | 18.2%±2.9 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.2%±3.4 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Male | 46.4%±2.7 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 34.2%±4.9 pts | 24.9% | +8.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 50.9%±4.6 pts | 56.2% | −11.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.7%±2.8 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.4%±2.2 pts | 8.6% | +2.7 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±1.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.3%±3.5 pts | 19.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.0%±4.0 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.1%±2.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| With a disability | 12.4%±2.4 pts | 9.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0%±2.2 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.5%±3.4 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.6%±3.7 pts | 47.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.0%±2.7 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4%±3.0 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0%±0.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Benton Township, Lake County earn?
Half of Benton Township, Lake County's 7,821 households earn less than $82,995 a year (±$6,115), against $110,416 in Lake County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $93,725 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $10,730 after inflation. 8.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Benton Township, Lake County | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $82,995±$6,115 | $110,416 | −$10,730 |
| Mean household income | $95,286±$6,682 | $155,726 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,765±$3,295 | $57,153 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.9%±3.4 pts | 8.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.0%±8.5 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.3%±3.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0%±1.5 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.1%±2.0 pts | 94.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Benton Township, Lake County?
Owners occupy 82.7% of Benton Township, Lake County's occupied homes and renters 17.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $249,800 by its owner (±$14,081). The median renter pays $1,332 a month including utilities, and 27.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Benton Township, Lake County | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $249,800±$14,081 | $345,700 | +$48,582 |
| Median gross rent | $1,332±$74 | $1,477 | −$240 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 27.8%±11.4 pts | 40.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,013±$131 | $2,503 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.7%±4.4 pts | 74.8% | +8.1 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 17.3%±4.4 pts | 25.2% | – |
| Housing units | 8,072±535 | 270,618 | +747 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.4%±4.8 pts | 66.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.2%±2.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.9%±2.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2%±2.0 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.1%±2.2 pts | 4.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Benton Township, Lake County work and get to work?
74.4% of Benton Township, Lake County's workers drive alone and 10.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.9%.
| Measure | Benton Township, Lake County | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8%±3.1 pts | 68.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.9%±3.0 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.4%±5.4 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.9%±4.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.0%±1.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.6%±3.2 pts | 19.5% | +8.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.9 min±2.5 | 28.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Benton Township, Lake County?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Benton Township, Lake County, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $55,912 (Tract 8606) to $95,625 (Tract 8601.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8606Lake County | 7,883 | $55,912 |
| Tract 8604Lake County | 6,820 | $82,009 |
| Tract 8601.03Lake County | 3,270 | $95,625 |
| Tract 8601.04Lake County | 3,171 | $76,926 |
| Tract 8601.05Lake County | 4,748 | $78,397 |
| Tract 8601.06Lake County | 3,167 | $94,917 |
| Tract 8602Lake County | 3,827 | $70,932 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Benton Township, Lake County) · Census block assignment files
How does Benton Township, Lake County compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Benton Township, Lake County is the 635th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 99th-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.
Benton Township, Lake County ranks 590th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 99th | 1,407 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 438th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 492nd | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 590th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 624th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 377th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 286th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 650th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 854th | 1,369 |
| Median age | 177th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 451st | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 542nd | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 360th | 1,382 |
Benton Township, Lake County's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Benton Township, Lake County with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Benton Township, Lake County?
10 of the 57 figures for Benton Township, Lake County on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Benton Township, Lake County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.