Population 171,556 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McLean County
Household size in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
McLean County is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.58, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.0 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.1 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.1 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of McLean County is 37.1 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 34.7 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Illinois counties are younger: only three of 102.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in McLean County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. McLean County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Illinois counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in McLean County
Renters in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in McLean County rent their homes (34.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only six of Illinois' 102 counties have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in McLean County as nationally: 8.2%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. McLean County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Illinois counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in McLean County was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are newer than in Illinois overall, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $765 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $883 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $929 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,093 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$328 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in McLean County pays $1,093 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $328 a month from 2006–10, a 43% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in McLean County
Bachelor's degrees in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.4% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.7% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.3% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
McLean County is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only two of Illinois' 102 counties have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.7% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.4% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.6% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in McLean County: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points, mirroring the country. Only one other Illinois county has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in McLean County
| Period | McLean County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in McLean County has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
McLean County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean County | 2.39 | 37.1 | 8.1% | 34.9% | 8.2% | 1980 | $1,093 | 47.3% | 96.2% | 2.9% |
| Ford County | 2.26 | 41.4 | 13.8% | 27.7% | 6.7% | 1954 | $923 | 19.3% | 91.6% | 5.2% |
| Fulton County | 2.33 | 44.1 | 10.5% | 23.4% | 13.0% | 1959 | $854 | 18.6% | 91.2% | 6.3% |
| Warren County | 2.54 | 44.8 | 8.7% | 17.6% | 8.0% | 1976 | $817 | 17.7% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Benton County | 2.52 | 39.3 | 11.2% | 20.2% | 8.8% | 1955 | $778 | 19.9% | 88.5% | 4.1% |
| McDonough County | 2.10 | 38.6 | 8.6% | 36.5% | 15.4% | 1964 | $730 | 31.1% | 94.8% | 7.3% |
| Tippecanoe County | 2.32 | 33.8 | 9.6% | 46.6% | 12.5% | 1984 | $1,199 | 43.5% | 88.2% | 3.3% |
| Hancock County | 2.30 | 46.6 | 7.9% | 18.7% | 14.3% | 1963 | $777 | 25.1% | 93.5% | 4.2% |
| Carroll County | 2.57 | 42.6 | 8.2% | 17.8% | 13.6% | 1964 | $900 | 17.2% | 89.0% | 3.5% |
| Lee County | 2.25 | 43.7 | 13.9% | 23.7% | 9.7% | 1962 | $834 | 21.3% | 92.5% | 4.2% |
| Clark County | 2.69 | 44.7 | 5.4% | 21.7% | 24.1% | 1970 | $639 | 15.2% | 91.2% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Carroll County, MD · Imperial County, CA · Porter County, IN · Licking County, OH · Maui County, HI · Middlesex County, CT · Midland County, TX · Monroe County, PA · Muskegon County, MI · Olmsted County, MN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up McLean County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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