City · Illinois
Kewanee, Illinois
Kewanee, city, in Henry County, Illinois. Kewanee had 12,115 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,509 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 11,913 (±445). GEOID 1739727.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,115
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,509 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,913 ±445
Median household income
$50,886
±$5,389 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$73,200
±$8,667 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$797
±$62 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Kewanee and what county is it in?
Kewanee is a city in Henry County, Illinois. It covers 6.6 square miles of land, 1,896 residents per square mile in 2020.
Kewanee is in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Kewanee lies mostly within Kewanee Township and reaches into Wethersfield Township, towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Kewanee, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,115 people lived in Kewanee on July 1, 2025, down 3.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 12,509 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 11,913 (±445).
| Measure | Kewanee | Henry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,913 ±445 | 48,643 | −634 |
| Households | 5,419 ±318 | 20,272 | +522 |
| Average household size | 2.11 ±0.12 | 2.36 | −0.37 |
| Housing units | 6,001 ±311 | 22,210 | no clear change |
Kewanee's population since 2000
From 12,944 in 2000 to 12,115 in 2025: down 6.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Kewanee 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 Kewanee?
The median resident of Kewanee is 46.3 years old; 18.5% are under 18 and 24.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 78.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.6%. 4.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Kewanee | Henry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 ±4.1 | 43.6 | +8.5 |
| Under 18 years | 18.5% ±2.5 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.1% ±2.9 pts | 21.8% | – |
| Male | 51.6% ±2.2 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.6% ±2.5 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 78.7% ±2.7 pts | 87.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | −2.9 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±1.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.3% ±1.5 pts | 1.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.5% ±2.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.4% ±1.9 pts | 7.5% | – |
| With a disability | 20.7% ±3.1 pts | 13.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.9% ±1.4 pts | 4.0% | −2.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.0% ±3.2 pts | 92.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.0% ±2.9 pts | 24.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9% ±1.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.5% ±4.2 pts | 90.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
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 Kewanee earn?
Half of Kewanee's 5,419 households earn less than $50,886 a year (±$5,389), against $71,911 in Henry County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $51,276 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kewanee | Henry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,886 ±$5,389 | $71,911 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $64,234 ±$4,944 | $93,368 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,324 ±$2,311 | $39,614 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.9% ±5.2 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.8% ±14.4 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.7% ±5.1 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.0% ±3.6 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.4% ±4.9 pts | 86.7% | – |
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 Kewanee?
Owners occupy 69.2% of Kewanee's occupied homes and renters 30.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $73,200 by its owner (±$8,667). The median renter pays $797 a month including utilities, and 38.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kewanee | Henry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $73,200 ±$8,667 | $151,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $797 ±$62 | $842 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.8% ±12.9 pts | 32.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,089 ±$72 | $1,414 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.2% ±5.2 pts | 79.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.8% ±5.2 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Housing units | 6,001 ±311 | 22,210 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% ±3.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.9% ±4.2 pts | 86.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.8% ±1.4 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 40.9% ±5.4 pts | 30.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.0% ±5.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
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 many new homes is Kewanee building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Kewanee in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Kewanee work and get to work?
77.2% of Kewanee's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.9%.
| Measure | Kewanee | Henry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.3% ±4.3 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.9% ±3.6 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.2% ±4.7 pts | 80.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.7% ±4.1 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 3.4% ±2.2 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.9% ±2.8 pts | 8.7% | +5.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.4 min ±2.7 | 22.2 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 Kewanee?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Kewanee (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $43,903 (Tract 308) to $61,075 (Tract 310).
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 Kewanee) · Census block assignment files
How does Kewanee compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Kewanee is the 2,813th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 198th-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Kewanee ranks 1,273rd 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 | 198th | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,004th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 304th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,273rd | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,208th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,339th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 974th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 179th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,112th | 1,369 |
| Median age | 216th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,057th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 838th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 1,180th | 1,382 |
Kewanee's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Kewanee 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 Kewanee?
11 of the 57 figures for Kewanee 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 Kewanee 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' public schools in Kewanee.