County · Illinois

Lee County, Illinois

Lee County, Illinois. Lee County had 32,914 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.6% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 37 places (13 cities, villages and boroughs, 22 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 17103.

Lee County is the county of the Dixon, IL micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

32,914

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 34,145 · ACS 2020-2024: 33,869

Median household income

$70,292

±$2,918 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$154,600

±$7,304 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$894

±$50 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Lee County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 34,145 residents in Lee County. The Census Bureau estimates 32,914 for July 1, 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 33,869 over 725 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −65 (33,998)
2021→2022 −604 (33,394)
2022→2023 −537 (32,857)
2023→2024 −6 (32,851)
2024→2025 +63 (32,914)

Lee County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Lee County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	33,869	12,694,798	−520
Households	13,337±296	5,036,449	−451
Average household size	2.34±0.05	2.46	+0.09
Housing units	14,995±69	5,457,452	no clear change

Lee County's population since 2000

From 36,062 in 2000 to 32,914 in 2025: down 8.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 36,062
2005 (estimate) 35,635
2010 Census 36,031
2015 (estimate) 34,521
2020 Census 34,145
2025 (estimate) 32,914

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Lee County?

Lee County holds 37 places: 13 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 22 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Dixon Township with 16,539 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Lee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Dixon Township	township	17,379	17,253±29	$64,245	$132,900	15.5%	100%
Dixon	city	15,274	14,910±413	$59,406	$120,800	17.8%	100%
Palmyra Township	township	2,891	2,877±21	$93,689	$266,100	5.5%	100%
Amboy Township	township	2,820	2,795±17	$68,286	$155,300	11.7%	100%
Amboy	city	2,278	2,384±174	$68,258	$134,800	13.3%	100%
Wyoming Township	township	1,252	1,318±221	$68,750	$179,500	7.6%	100%
Franklin Grove Township	township	1,203	1,330±219	$63,194	$122,600	9.2%	100%
Ashton Township	township	1,160	1,133±169	$71,087	$137,500	12.0%	100%
South Dixon TownshipGEOID 1710370694	township	982	699±228	$55,938	$225,000	26.7%	100%
Ashton	village	967	935±149	$62,778	$114,200	14.5%	100%
Franklin Grove	village	896	988±165	$58,618	$124,400	12.8%	100%
Paw Paw	village	830	932±204	$65,156	$153,900	8.3%	100%
Nelson Township	township	775	644±140	$77,813	$147,700	5.6%	100%
Brooklyn Township, Lee County	township	691	680±164	$63,846	$117,600	4.4%	100%
Sublette Township	township	675	844±227	$60,479	$160,200	14.5%	100%
Willow Creek TownshipGEOID 1710381971	township	646	901±270	$78,802	$250,000	5.9%	100%
Lee Center TownshipGEOID 1710342613	township	568	440±176	$75,694	$268,800	6.9%	100%
Alto Township	township	510	608±225	$127,833	$212,000	4.6%	100%
Nachusa TownshipGEOID 1710351557	township	480	333±139	$111,250	$246,400	0.0%	100%
Sublette	village	380	454±91	$66,250	$138,300	19.8%	100%
Harmon TownshipGEOID 1710332980	township	349	279±104	$70,625	$95,000	10.0%	100%
Viola TownshipGEOID 1710378110	township	312	312±153	$83,875	not published	1.0%	100%
Bradford TownshipGEOID 1710307679	township	287	253±89	$91,625	$244,000	0.0%	100%
May Township, Lee CountyGEOID 1710347644	township	277	218±171	$131,125	$181,300	0.0%	100%
Compton	village	274	259±58	$57,500	$80,800	6.6%	100%
Reynolds TownshipGEOID 1710363407	township	248	266±102	$116,250	$170,500	0.0%	100%
East Grove TownshipGEOID 1710321865	township	245	266±121	$69,375	$175,000	18.0%	100%
StewardGEOID 1772624	village	229	271±111	$102,500	$148,000	2.6%	100%
Marion Township, Lee CountyGEOID 1710346890	township	206	293±113	$92,857	$239,800	2.4%	100%
Lee	village	313	320±67	$82,000	$150,500	19.2%	60%
Hamilton TownshipGEOID 1710332447	township	189	127±112	$148,824	$250,000	0.8%	100%
Lee CenterGEOID 1742600	CDP	146	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%
NachusaGEOID 1751544	CDP	137	82±48	$108,438	$160,000	0.0%	100%
West BrooklynGEOID 1780008	village	131	152±88	$76,250	$85,000	3.3%	100%
NelsonGEOID 1751947	village	127	125±49	$39,250	$86,300	21.6%	100%
HarmonGEOID 1732967	village	111	100±46	$66,250	$151,800	24.0%	100%
Rochelle	city	9,446	9,529±110	$66,307	$164,300	7.9%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Lee County?

The median resident of Lee County is 43.1 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 21.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.6%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Lee County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.1±0.5	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	19.6%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	21.3%±0.3 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7.6%	18.8%	+1.4 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	83.4%±0.4 pts	58.1%	−2.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	5.3%±0.4 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	5.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.9%±0.6 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.2%±0.5 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.6%±0.9 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.4%±0.9 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	16.2%±1.3 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.8%±0.7 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	91.2%±1.3 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.4%±1.9 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.9%±1.2 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.2%±0.5 pts	1.6%	–

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 Lee County earn?

Half of Lee County's 13,337 households earn less than $70,292 a year (±$2,918), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $71,619 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lee County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$70,292±$2,918	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$90,634±$4,961	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$35,945±$1,814	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	11.8%±1.7 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	12.0%±3.9 pts	15.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	15.4%±2.0 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.4%±1.9 pts	90.8%	–

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 Lee County?

Owners occupy 73.6% of Lee County's occupied homes and renters 26.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,600 by its owner (±$7,304). The median renter pays $894 a month including utilities, and 30.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lee County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$154,600±$7,304	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$894±$50	$1,274	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	30.4%±6.1 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,403±$72	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	73.6%±2.3 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	14,995±69	5,457,452	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.9%±1.7 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	7.4%±3.3 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.3%±2.1 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	5.4%±1.3 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	31.1%±2.1 pts	20.2%	–

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 Lee County building?

Builders took permits for 32 new housing units across Lee County in 2025 (24 single-family), 1.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 30 units
2020 25 units
2021 26 units
2022 19 units
2023 24 units
2024 43 units
2025 32 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Lee County get to work?

82.0% of Lee County's workers drive alone and 5.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lee County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	55.7%±1.9 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	5.2%±1.1 pts	5.8%	+1.7 pts
Drove alone to work	82.0%±2.3 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	9.5%±1.9 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.6%±0.4 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	1.2%±0.6 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	5.5%±1.2 pts	15.9%	+2.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	24.6 min±1.8	27.8 min	+2.8 min

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 are Lee County's census tracts?

Lee County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,235 (Tract 6) to $86,111 (Tract 1).

Census tracts of Lee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 117103000100	Ashton (12%)	2,762	3,014±313	$86,111	$164,600	$1,024	7.0%
Tract 217103000200	Franklin Grove (12%)	3,227	3,309±323	$79,811	$217,700	$830	6.1%
Tract 317103000300	Dixon (90%)	4,072	4,183±456	$64,857	$132,000	$944	17.9%
Tract 417103000400	Dixon (84%)	7,503	7,531±480	$71,205	$144,700	$938	15.2%
Tract 517103000500	Dixon (39%)	4,709	4,272±384	$81,179	$182,600	$734	7.6%
Tract 617103000600	Dixon (86%)	3,425	3,215±414	$53,235	$77,400	$919	21.9%
Tract 717103000700	Harmon (4%)	1,809	1,643±221	$84,000	$168,400	$903	7.3%
Tract 817103000800	Amboy (46%)	3,399	3,495±271	$68,774	$164,100	$902	9.6%
Tract 917103000900	Sublette (8%)	3,239	3,207±280	$69,125	$170,300	$970	8.8%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Lee County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Lee County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	42nd of 102
Growth 2020-2025	78th of 102
Residents per square mile	50th of 102
Median household income	43rd of 102
Median home value	36th of 102
Median gross rent	29th of 102
Poverty rate	61st of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	67th of 102
Median age	41st of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Lee 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.