City · Illinois
Zion, Illinois
Zion, city, in Lake County, Illinois. Zion had 24,447 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 24,655 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 24,600 (±39). GEOID 1784220.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
24,447
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 24,655 · ACS 2020-2024: 24,600 ±39
Median household income
$63,104
±$10,123 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$183,800
±$4,690 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$1,186
±$96 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Zion and what county is it in?
Zion is a city in Lake County, Illinois. It covers 9.9 square miles of land, 2,479 residents per square mile in 2020.
Zion 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 Zion, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 24,447 people lived in Zion on July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 24,655 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 24,600 (±39).
| Measure | Zion | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 24,600 ±39 | 714,223 | +742 |
| Households | 8,813 ±538 | 258,455 | +835 |
| Average household size | 2.74 ±0.17 | 2.69 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,374 ±542 | 270,618 | no clear change |
Zion's population since 2000
From 22,866 in 2000 to 24,447 in 2025: up 6.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Zion 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 Zion?
The median resident of Zion is 32.3 years old; 28.5% are under 18 and 11.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 43.7%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 24.5%. 19.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Zion | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 ±2.0 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 28.5% ±3.0 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.4% ±1.3 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Male | 48.5% ±2.1 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 43.7% ±4.4 pts | 24.9% | +15.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 24.5% ±2.7 pts | 56.2% | −8.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 23.1% ±3.2 pts | 6.3% | −6.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±1.1 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 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 | 5.2% ±1.8 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 19.2% ±2.6 pts | 19.8% | +6.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 35.1% ±4.4 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.6% ±1.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| With a disability | 15.3% ±2.3 pts | 9.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.9% ±2.5 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.1% ±3.0 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.1% ±2.3 pts | 47.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.9% ±1.1 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.0% ±3.3 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±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 Zion earn?
Half of Zion's 8,813 households earn less than $63,104 a year (±$10,123), against $110,416 in Lake County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $63,629 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Zion | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,104 ±$10,123 | $110,416 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,148 ±$14,355 | $155,726 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,277 ±$4,881 | $57,153 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.0% ±3.3 pts | 8.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.8% ±6.5 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 30.0% ±4.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% ±2.0 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.5% ±3.2 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 Zion?
Owners occupy 57.8% of Zion's occupied homes and renters 42.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $183,800 by its owner (±$4,690). The median renter pays $1,186 a month including utilities, and 40.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Zion | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $183,800 ±$4,690 | $345,700 | +$31,194 |
| Median gross rent | $1,186 ±$96 | $1,477 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.9% ±6.7 pts | 40.1% | −15.4 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,765 ±$117 | $2,503 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.8% ±4.7 pts | 74.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.2% ±4.7 pts | 25.2% | – |
| Housing units | 9,374 ±542 | 270,618 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.2% ±2.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4% ±2.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.2% ±4.4 pts | 66.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.9% ±3.1 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.4% ±2.5 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 many new homes is Zion building?
Builders took permits for 15 new housing units in Zion in 2025 (15 in single-family houses), 0.6 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 Zion work and get to work?
72.4% of Zion's workers drive alone and 8.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.7%.
| Measure | Zion | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.3% ±2.1 pts | 68.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% ±2.1 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.4% ±3.8 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.7% ±3.1 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±1.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±1.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.1% ±1.9 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.7 min ±1.7 | 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 Zion?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Zion, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $47,938 (Tract 8603.02) to $94,917 (Tract 8601.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8605Lake County | 4,555 | $65,069 |
| Tract 8602Lake County | 3,827 | $70,932 |
| Tract 8603.01Lake County | 3,354 | $53,194 |
| Tract 8603.02Lake County | 2,662 | $47,938 |
| Tract 8601.05Lake County | 4,748 | $78,397 |
| Tract 8601.06Lake County | 3,167 | $94,917 |
| Tract 8606Lake County | 7,883 | $55,912 |
| Tract 8604Lake County | 6,820 | $82,009 |
| Tract 8601.04Lake County | 3,171 | $76,926 |
| Tract 8660Lake County | 6,796 | $125,074 |
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 Zion) · Census block assignment files
How does Zion compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Zion is the 1,649th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 93rd-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.
Zion ranks 1,013th 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 | 93rd | 1,294 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 514th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 206th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,013th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,050th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 636th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 386th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 239th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,158th | 1,369 |
| Median age | 1,330th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,304th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 735th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 487th | 1,382 |
Zion's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Zion 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 Zion?
9 of the 57 figures for Zion 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 Zion 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 Zion.