City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Wauconda, IL

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

14,010
Residents
$112,438
Median income
$268,300
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Wauconda - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Wauconda lands in the 84th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

84th
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Wauconda, IL

Illinois's Wauconda is a small town, with 14,010 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Wauconda households earn a median of $112,438 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.2%. Wauconda's housing stock carries a median value of $268,300, and the median resident age is 36.9 years. 39.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 70.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 15 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 275% from five years earlier.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,781 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

14,010 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$112,438 /yr

Poverty 5.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Wauconda compare to other US cities?

Wauconda measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 84% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Illinois-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Wauconda toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Wauconda ranks #192 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wauconda only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#138 of 1,311
89th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#196 of 1,315
85th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#823 of 1,335
38th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#192 of 1,336
86th 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.

84thIncome percentile

84th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wauconda's home value compares nationally

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

$268,300 41st percentile more affordable than 41% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $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. Wauconda $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 - Wauconda, IL Wauconda, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wauconda, 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 Wauconda, IL median $112,438/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%
Wauconda, 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 Wauconda, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 39.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.0%

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

Population
14,010
Median Income
$112,438
Median Home Value
$268,300
Median Age
36.9
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Labor force participation
70.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.4%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,950 residents14,000 residents14,050 residents14,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,067 residents 13,993 residents ▼ -0.5%
Wauconda's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
15
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
10
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 4
2021 7
2022 3
2023 3
2024 15

Permit volume increased 275% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.5%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
14.2%
Other
0.9%

Based on 7,236 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 Wauconda sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Forest Park
14,000 people
Midlothian
14,024 people
Beach Park
13,988 people
Wood Dale
13,926 people
Shiloh
14,109 people
Chicago Ridge
14,147 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wauconda's 14,010 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pierre, SD
14,008 people
Destin, FL
14,018 people
Anderson Creek, NC
14,021 people
Allouez, WI
14,023 people
Sharonville, OH
13,989 people
Smithfield, UT
14,033 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wauconda's $112,438 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

South Hill, NY
$112,437 median income
Islandia, NY
$112,435 median income
Lunenburg, MA
$112,422 median income
East Rockaway, NY
$112,415 median income
Galena, IN
$112,411 median income
Pearland, TX
$112,470 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wauconda, 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 Wauconda, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.6% 8.2% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.1% White 75.6% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 5.6% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.2% Two or more races 9.6% 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 Wauconda 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
Wauconda (this city) 14,010 $112,438
Forest Park 14,000 $81,323
Midlothian 14,024 $67,872
Beach Park 13,988 $83,069
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wauconda, IL?

What is the population of Wauconda, IL? +

Wauconda, IL has a population of 14,010 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Wauconda is $112,438 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wauconda? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wauconda; 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.

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

The median home value in Wauconda is $268,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.