Population 43,768 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Stephenson County
Household size in Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Stephenson County is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 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 2.42, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southeast.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.4 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.2 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.2, Stephenson County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.4, in line with the national trend. Stephenson County is older than the great majority of Illinois counties.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Stephenson County as they are nationally: 11.4%, against 11.6%. Compared with other Illinois counties, Stephenson County has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Stephenson County
Renters in Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.1% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.1% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Stephenson County rent their homes (29.1%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 51.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Stephenson County is close to the national rate: 9.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Illinois overall (8.1%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1957 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Stephenson County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1960, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1957 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $590 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $643 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $667 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $779 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$189 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Stephenson County costs $779 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $189 a month since 2006–10, up 32%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Stephenson County
Bachelor's degrees in Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Stephenson County: 21.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.3% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Stephenson County is a bit above the national rate: 92.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Stephenson County
| Period | Stephenson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Stephenson County runs below the national rate: 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Stephenson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephenson County | 2.26 | 46.2 | 11.4% | 29.1% | 9.7% | 1960 | $779 | 21.2% | 92.3% | 4.4% |
| Winnebago County | 2.49 | 40.4 | 13.9% | 34.1% | 8.2% | 1972 | $1,110 | 25.1% | 88.5% | 7.6% |
| Jo Daviess County | 2.12 | 50.8 | 8.7% | 19.6% | 17.5% | 1969 | $859 | 28.9% | 93.2% | 3.6% |
| Boone County | 2.78 | 41.0 | 12.1% | 18.2% | 5.2% | 1984 | $1,234 | 24.0% | 86.8% | 6.7% |
| Dubuque County | 2.38 | 40.0 | 7.9% | 26.7% | 6.0% | 1974 | $1,015 | 33.3% | 93.9% | 3.5% |
| McHenry County | 2.71 | 41.4 | 9.3% | 17.3% | 4.3% | 1985 | $1,557 | 35.3% | 93.6% | 4.6% |
| Lake County | 2.77 | 39.5 | 10.0% | 25.2% | 5.8% | 1980 | $1,746 | 45.6% | 90.5% | 4.9% |
| Delaware County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.3% | 20.4% | 10.4% | 1967 | $739 | 22.3% | 93.3% | 1.7% |
| Buchanan County | 2.53 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 17.9% | 7.6% | 1972 | $973 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 2.8% |
| Black Hawk County | 2.37 | 37.0 | 10.5% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1968 | $1,030 | 32.7% | 93.3% | 4.5% |
| Grundy County | 2.40 | 42.5 | 7.8% | 15.5% | 6.7% | 1961 | $859 | 28.3% | 96.7% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Clatsop County, OR · Shenandoah County, VA · Shelby County, OH · Shelby County, KY · Shelby County, IN · Shawano County, WI · Sequoyah County, OK · Scott County, MO · Santa Cruz County, AZ · Coffee County, GA
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 Stephenson 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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