City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Oswego, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Oswego - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

35,463
Residents
$119,881
Median income
$319,000
Median home
$2,050
Median rent (state)

Oswego - the verdict

Oswego ranks in the 87th percentile for household income and the 82nd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

87th
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
84th
percentile, median rent
82nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Oswego, IL

Illinois's Oswego is a small city, with 35,463 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $119,881 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.3%. Home values in Oswego run a median of $319,000, and the median resident age is 39.7 years. Educational attainment runs 43.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 68.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 398 residential building permits were authorized in Oswego (Building Boom), up 333% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Oswego reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 585.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,050 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Oswego workers runs 25.6 minutes, with 73.1% driving alone and 16.2% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 80.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

35,463 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$119,881 /yr

Poverty 1.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Oswego compare to other US cities?

Here's how Oswego stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 87% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 84% pricier than other cities
Safety 82% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Illinois and the picture shifts: Oswego ranks #129 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Oswego against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Oswego's strongest outlier among Illinois cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Oswego ranks #1 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Oswego only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#110 of 1,311
92nd percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 1,336
99th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#121 of 1,315
91st percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#1,184 of 1,335
11th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#155 of 1,336
88th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

87thIncome percentile
82ndSafety percentile

87th percentile nationally for median household income · 82nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Oswego's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Oswego's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 64 Avg. percentile National median
Oswego's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Oswego's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$319,000 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Oswego $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Oswego, IL Oswego, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oswego, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Oswego, IL median $119,881/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Oswego, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Oswego, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
35,463
Median Income
$119,881
Median Home Value
$319,000
Median Age
39.7
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Labor force participation
68.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
585.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
34.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
551.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
34,000 residents36,000 residents38,000 residents40,000 residents42,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,738 residents 39,948 residents ▲ +15.0%
Oswego's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
398
housing units authorized
Single-Family
181
detached homes
Multifamily
217
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 92
2020 137
2021 160
2022 374
2023 617
2024 398

Permit volume increased 333% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.6 minutes
Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
16.2%
Other
0.7%

Based on 18,503 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Oswego sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,050/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.2 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Addison
35,470 people
Calumet City
35,253 people
Northbrook
34,642 people
Rock Island
36,758 people
Hanover Park
36,850 people
Woodridge
33,889 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oswego's 35,463 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Amherst, MA
35,472 people
Fair Oaks, VA
35,472 people
Springville, UT
35,474 people
Stockbridge, GA
35,475 people
Torrington, CT
35,481 people
Gahanna, OH
35,438 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oswego's $119,881 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Huntington Beach, CA
$119,885 median income
Aspinwall, PA
$119,875 median income
Sisco Heights, WA
$119,871 median income
League City, TX
$119,870 median income
Narberth, PA
$119,863 median income
Wabasso Beach, FL
$119,901 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oswego, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Oswego, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 68.8% 12.0% 12.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.4% White 68.8% Black or African American 12.0% Asian 4.5% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 12.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Oswego compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Oswego (this city) 35,463 $119,881
Addison 35,470 $87,587
Calumet City 35,253 $53,991
Northbrook 34,642 $155,321
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oswego, IL?

What is the population of Oswego, IL? +

Oswego, IL counts 35,463 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oswego, IL? +

Median annual household income in Oswego runs $119,881, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oswego? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Oswego; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Oswego, IL safe? +

Oswego has a total crime rate of 585.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Oswego, IL? +

Oswego's median home value sits at $319,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.