Population 156 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Wolf Lake: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Wolf Lake
Household size in Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.14 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.08 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −1.06 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Wolf Lake is a place of small households, averaging 2.08 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 3.14, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.9 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +26.5 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 56.7, Wolf Lake is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −15.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Wolf Lake than nationally: 9.2%, against 11.6%.
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 Wolf Lake
Renters in Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Wolf Lake is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 74.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.3% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +16.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Wolf Lake: 28.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +15 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Wolf Lake are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Illinois as a whole, where the median home dates to 1970.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $760 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $538 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $632 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $732 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$28 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Wolf Lake pays $732 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 9.0% 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 Wolf Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +24.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Wolf Lake than nationally: 28.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.3% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Wolf Lake: 97.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Wolf Lake
| Period | Wolf Lake | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −14.2 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in Wolf Lake out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force nationally. 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).
Wolf Lake compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Lake | 2.08 | 56.7 | 9.2% | 9.9% | 28.3% | 1983 | $732 | 28.8% | 97.3% | 0.0% |
| Ware | 2.52 | 48.5 | 10.1% | 7.2% | 22.4% | 1984 | $690 | 26.9% | 92.4% | 0.2% |
| Oriole | 2.99 | 42.4 | 4.0% | 18.0% | 14.8% | 1985 | $832 | 30.5% | 91.8% | 1.7% |
| Alto Pass | 2.67 | 45.4 | 11.1% | 9.9% | 17.5% | 1978 | $728 | 21.4% | 90.8% | 5.9% |
| New Wells | 2.69 | 42.4 | 4.0% | 9.1% | 7.7% | 1983 | $845 | 29.3% | 94.9% | 1.8% |
| Mountain Glen | 2.75 | 43.7 | 11.3% | 9.0% | 16.8% | 1977 | $729 | 21.0% | 90.4% | 6.2% |
| Grand Tower | 2.27 | 33.3 | 16.3% | 29.1% | 14.0% | 1956 | $671 | 5.9% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Wittenberg | 2.56 | 42.6 | 4.3% | 12.2% | 19.8% | 1973 | $695 | 21.9% | 87.7% | 1.0% |
| Pomona | 2.42 | 53.1 | 10.2% | 17.3% | 14.8% | 1978 | $713 | 19.9% | 88.5% | 8.9% |
| Pocahontas | 2.56 | 37.2 | 4.5% | 15.8% | 7.2% | 1995 | $861 | 30.7% | 94.6% | 0.0% |
| Jonesboro | 2.55 | 39.6 | 6.6% | 18.3% | 8.1% | 1971 | $664 | 26.9% | 92.3% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Buckeye, WV · Vine Valley, NY · Vimy Ridge, AR · Canada Creek Ranch, MI · Vilas, KS · Calpine, CA · Vignes, WI · California Hot Springs, CA · Calais, OH · Cades, TN
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 Wolf Lake. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.