Lake County demographics statistics at a glance
Lake County, Illinois shows a large, changing population with a broad mix of age groups, housing patterns, and economic markers. The numbers below focus on the most recent Census Bureau QuickFacts estimates and the county’s longer-run demographic history, so you can compare what is happening now with where the county has been over time.
Quick facts snapshot
- Population estimates rose from 718,604 on July 1, 2024 to 719,339 on July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- The April 1, 2020 Census count was 714,342, which places the recent estimates close to the official 2020 baseline (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Households were 258,455 in the 2020-2024 period, with 2.69 persons per household (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Homeownership was 74.8%, and median gross rent was $1,477 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- 47.7% of residents age 25 years and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher, while 90.6% had at least a high school diploma (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- 31.4% of households spoke a language other than English at home, and 19.8% of residents were foreign-born (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Contents
- Population trend
- Age and household makeup
- Race and ethnicity
- Housing and commuting-related indicators
- Education, work, and health coverage
- Long-run change since 1990
- What the county profile suggests
Population trend
The most recent population estimates show Lake County staying just above 719,000 people.
- July 1, 2024 estimate: 718,604 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- July 1, 2025 estimate: 719,339 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- April 1, 2020 Census count: 714,342 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- April 1, 2010 Census count: 703,462 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
The year-over-year change from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 is modest, but it still matters because it shows the county holding a large population base while continuing to edge upward. The percent change from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 was 0.7%, compared with 0.6% from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Population estimates compared
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimates, July 1, 2024 | 718,604 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Population estimates, July 1, 2025 | 719,339 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2020 | 714,342 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2010 | 703,462 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
The county’s base population estimate for April 1, 2020 was 714,412 in the 2024 estimate series and 714,394 in the 2025 estimate series, which keeps the recent estimate history tightly clustered around the Census count (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Age and household makeup
Lake County’s age profile includes both a meaningful youth share and a substantial older-adult population.
- Persons under 5 years: 5.1% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Persons under 18 years: 22.6% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Persons 65 years and over: 16.9% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Female persons: 49.7% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
These values matter because they shape demand across schools, healthcare, housing, and transportation. A county with 22.6% under 18 and 16.9% age 65 and older has a population structure that requires services at both ends of the age spectrum.
The household figures add another layer.
- Households, 2020-2024: 258,455 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Persons per household, 2020-2024: 2.69 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Living in the same house 1 year ago: 88.4% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
The same-household stability figure suggests a mostly settled population base, even as the county continues to post a large total population. With 2.69 persons per household, the county sits in a range where both family households and smaller household units are important to the overall profile.
Household stability and size
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Households, 2020-2024 | 258,455 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Persons per household, 2020-2024 | 2.69 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Living in the same house 1 year ago | 88.4% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
Race and ethnicity
The county’s racial and ethnic mix is one of the most important parts of the demographic picture.
- White alone: 78.9% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Black alone: 7.6% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 1.1% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Asian alone: 10.0% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Two or more races: 2.4% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Hispanic or Latino: 25.7% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: 55.8% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
That mix shows both a large White population and a sizeable Hispanic or Latino population, along with notable Asian and Black communities. If you are comparing county-level demographics, the Hispanic or Latino share of 25.7% is especially useful because it helps explain why language, school, housing, and community-service planning need to account for diversity in household backgrounds.
Foreign-born residents make up 19.8% of the population, and 31.4% of households speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois). Those two figures are not the same thing, but together they point to a county where multilingual households are a meaningful part of daily life.
Race and ethnicity snapshot
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| White alone | 78.9% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Black alone | 7.6% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Asian alone | 10.0% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Hispanic or Latino | 25.7% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 55.8% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Foreign-born persons | 19.8% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Language other than English spoken at home | 31.4% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
Housing and commuting-related indicators
Housing supply and household costs help translate population growth into lived experience.
- Housing units, July 1, 2024: 271,874 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Housing units, July 1, 2025: 272,757 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 74.8% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $345,700 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage: $2,503 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage: $1,088 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Median gross rent: $1,477 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Building permits in 2024: 1,042 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
A few patterns stand out. First, the county has a high owner-occupied share at 74.8%, which is consistent with a mature housing market. Second, the gap between owner costs with a mortgage and without a mortgage is substantial: $2,503 versus $1,088 per month. Third, median gross rent at $1,477 helps frame the rental market alongside ownership costs.
The housing-unit totals also show that supply is still expanding. The count rose from 271,874 in the July 1, 2024 estimate to 272,757 in the July 1, 2025 estimate, while building permits reached 1,042 in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois). Those figures do not tell the whole story of affordability or construction patterns, but they do show ongoing housing activity.
Housing indicators at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units, July 1, 2024 | 271,874 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Housing units, July 1, 2025 | 272,757 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate | 74.8% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units | $345,700 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Median gross rent | $1,477 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Building permits in 2024 | 1,042 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
Education, work, and health coverage
Educational attainment is one of the clearest strengths in the county profile.
- High school graduate or higher among persons age 25 years and older: 90.6% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Bachelor’s degree or higher among persons age 25 years and older: 47.7% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Those two figures together show a very high educational baseline. Nearly half of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is a strong indicator for a large, skills-intensive local workforce.
Labor force participation is also substantial.
- In civilian labor force, total: 66.2% of population age 16 years and older (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- In civilian labor force, female: 61.4% of population age 16 years and older (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Health coverage and disability data add context about access and vulnerability.
- With a disability, under age 65 years: 6.7% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years: 6.9% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
- Persons in poverty: 7.8% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
These values are relatively compact, but they are useful because they describe how much of the under-65 population may need targeted support, especially when read alongside household income, labor-force participation, and educational attainment.
Education and labor indicators
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| High school graduate or higher, age 25+ | 90.6% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+ | 47.7% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| In civilian labor force, total | 66.2% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| In civilian labor force, female | 61.4% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Persons in poverty | 7.8% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years | 6.9% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
| With a disability, under age 65 years | 6.7% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois |
Long-run change since 1990
The county’s long-term demographic change becomes clearer when you compare 1990, 2000, and 2010.
Population and composition over time
| Measure | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 516,418 | 644,599 | 703,462 | County Demographics |
| White population | 450,666 | 516,189 | 528,204 | County Demographics |
| African American population | 34,771 | 44,741 | 49,033 | County Demographics |
| Asian population | 12,363 | 25,103 | 44,358 | County Demographics |
| Latino population | 38,570 | 92,716 | 139,987 | County Demographics |
| Median age | 31.6 | 33.8 | 36.7 | County Demographics |
| Number of households | 173,966 | 216,297 | 241,712 | County Demographics |
| Average household size | 2.88 | 2.85 | 2.82 | County Demographics |
| Median household income | $46,047 | $66,973 | $78,423 | County Demographics |
| Number of housing units | 183,283 | 226,012 | 260,310 | County Demographics |
The long-run view shows several important trends.
Population increased steadily from 516,418 in 1990 to 644,599 in 2000 and then to 703,462 in 2010 (County Demographics | Lake County, IL). Over the same period, the Asian population rose from 12,363 to 25,103 to 44,358, and the Latino population rose from 38,570 to 92,716 to 139,987 (County Demographics | Lake County, IL). Those changes show that the county became much more diverse over time.
Median age also increased, from 31.6 in 1990 to 33.8 in 2000 and 36.7 in 2010 (County Demographics | Lake County, IL). That is a simple but meaningful sign of population aging over the decades.
Households and housing units both expanded as well. Households rose from 173,966 in 1990 to 216,297 in 2000 and 241,712 in 2010, while housing units rose from 183,283 to 226,012 and 260,310 (County Demographics | Lake County, IL). Average household size moved slightly downward from 2.88 to 2.85 to 2.82, indicating a gradual shift toward smaller households over time.
Median household income also climbed, from $46,047 in 1990 to $66,973 in 2000 and $78,423 in 2010 (County Demographics | Lake County, IL). Even without adjusting for inflation, the pattern shows clear upward movement across those decades.
What the county profile suggests
The current demographic profile points to a county with four defining characteristics.
First, it is large. The population is now just above 719,000, and recent changes are incremental rather than dramatic (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Second, it is stable. Nearly nine in ten residents lived in the same house one year ago, and the owner-occupied share is high at 74.8% (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Third, it is diverse. The county includes a 25.7% Hispanic or Latino population, a 10.0% Asian population, a 7.6% Black population, and a 19.8% foreign-born population, while 31.4% of households speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Fourth, it is well educated. With 90.6% of adults age 25 and older holding at least a high school diploma and 47.7% holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, the county has a strong educational foundation for work, business, and civic life (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake County, Illinois).
Taken together, these statistics show a county that combines scale, stability, diversity, and educational attainment. The exact balance of those traits is what makes Lake County demographics statistics useful for planning, comparison, and local analysis.