State
Illinois
Illinois. Illinois had 12,719,141 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.8% since 2020, while the United States grew 3.1%. 2,868 places (1,294 incorporated, 1,407 towns and townships and 167 census-designated) in 102 counties; 55,513 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
12,719,141
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,812,508
Median household income
$83,390
±$362 (90% margin)
Median home value
$263,300
±$797 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$1,274
±$5 (90% margin)
How many people live in Illinois?
The 2020 Census counted 12,812,508 residents in Illinois. The Census Bureau estimates 12,719,141 for July 1, 2025, down 0.8% since 2020, while the United States grew 3.1%. 88.5% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place (a city, village, borough or CDP); in the counties organized into townships, 1,407 townships are also local governments, and many of those places lie inside one.
Illinois is the 6th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,694,798 | −75,833 |
| Households | 5,036,449 ±8,009 | +190,315 |
| Average household size | 2.46 ±0.01 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 5,457,452 ±471 | +97,137 |
Illinois's population since 2000
From 12,419,293 in 2000 to 12,719,141 in 2025: up 2.4%. 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.
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; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Illinois?
Chicago is Illinois's largest place with 2,731,585 residents in 2025, followed by Aurora (181,505 residents in 2025) and Rockford Township (168,961 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 2,731,585 | $77,902 |
| Aurora | 181,505 | $93,633 |
| Rockford Township | 168,961 | $55,922 |
| Wheeling Township | 154,050 | $106,026 |
| Naperville | 153,114 | $155,105 |
| Thornton Township | 152,667 | $58,534 |
| Joliet | 152,241 | $92,201 |
| Downers Grove Township | 149,599 | $117,335 |
| Worth Township, Cook County | 148,514 | $77,966 |
| Rockford | 147,384 | $54,752 |
| Proviso Township | 147,144 | $82,097 |
| Maine Township, Cook County | 136,611 | $98,291 |
| Schaumburg Township | 131,411 | $99,298 |
| York Township, DuPage County | 128,137 | $112,233 |
| Aurora Township | 127,446 | $76,459 |
| Milton Township | 119,815 | $121,087 |
| Lisle Township | 119,740 | $118,712 |
| Elgin | 115,476 | $90,282 |
| Springfield | 112,989 | $66,064 |
| Lyons Township | 112,345 | $92,619 |
| Palatine Township | 111,179 | $104,916 |
| Capital Township | 111,143 | $65,902 |
| Bloomingdale Township | 111,039 | $99,020 |
| Peoria | 110,920 | $59,410 |
| Niles Township | 109,978 | $97,280 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Illinois?
Illinois has 102 counties. Cook County is the largest with 5,194,625 residents in 2025; Hardin County is the smallest with 3,588.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Illinois?
The median resident of Illinois is 39.0 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 17.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 18.8%. 14.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 ±0.1 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 21.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18.8% ±0.1 pts | +1.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 58.1% ±0.1 pts | −3.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.3% ±0.1 pts | −0.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.9% ±0.1 pts | +0.5 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.7% ±0.1 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 24.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| With a disability | 12.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.9% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37.8% ±0.2 pts | +3.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Illinois earn?
Half of Illinois's 5,036,449 households earn less than $83,390 a year (±$362). In 2015-2019 the median was $81,086 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,305 after inflation. 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,390 ±$362 | +$2,305 |
| Mean household income | $115,638 ±$467 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,406 ±$212 | +$2,054 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.8% ±0.1 pts | −0.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.1% ±0.3 pts | −2.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Illinois?
Owners occupy 67.1% of Illinois's occupied homes and renters 32.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $263,300 by its owner (±$797). The median renter pays $1,274 a month including utilities, and 39.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $263,300 ±$797 | +$23,930 |
| Median gross rent | $1,274 ±$5 | +$31 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.0% ±0.4 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,987 ±$6 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.1% ±0.2 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Housing units | 5,457,452 ±471 | +97,137 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.0% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.2% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Illinois building?
Builders took permits for 18,551 new housing units in Illinois in 2025 (10,821 single-family), 1.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Illinois get to work?
65.9% of Illinois's workers drive alone and 15.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Illinois | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 65.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 5.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 15.9% ±0.1 pts | +11.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.8 min ±0.1 | −1.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections