1st Advantage MortgageIn DuPage County, Illinois, the typical household earns $112,096 a year and the typical rent is $1,688. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of DuPage County
- What DuPage County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in DuPage County
- The DuPage County job picture
- Counties near DuPage County
- Places inside DuPage County
- Debt-to-income at DuPage County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in DuPage County
- DuPage County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Illinois
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of DuPage County
DuPage County is home to about 930,024 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 2nd most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Land area is 328 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2,837 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 35 Census places inside DuPage County, Aurora leads by population with about 179,898; 35 of the 35 are incorporated.
What DuPage County households earn
DuPage County households have a median income of $112,096 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 1st of 102 in Illinois.
| Yearly household income | DuPage County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.6% | -8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.4% | -4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.8% | +4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 22.3% | +8.5 pts |
About 13% of households earn under $35,000, while 55% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.6% of DuPage County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in DuPage County
A typical DuPage County rental runs $1,688 a month including utilities, which is 32% above Illinois. By the Census definition, 45% of DuPage County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $391,400, or 3.5 years of median income. 73% of DuPage County households own their home and 27% rent. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | DuPage County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,688/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $391,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% | 2.3% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The DuPage County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed DuPage County residents work in education and health care and 16% in professional and administrative services. Professional and administrative services stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in DuPage County. 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 21% work from home.
| Top industries | DuPage County share | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.7% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near DuPage County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Kendall County leads the group on income ($111,601), DeKalb County trails ($70,724), and DuPage County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuPage County | - | $112,096 | $1,688/mo | 73% |
| Kane County, IL | 19 mi | $103,163 | $1,453/mo | 76% |
| Cook County, IL | 23 mi | $83,498 | $1,435/mo | 58% |
| Kendall County, IL | 25 mi | $111,601 | $1,781/mo | 84% |
| Lake County, IL | 27 mi | $110,416 | $1,477/mo | 75% |
| Will County, IL | 28 mi | $109,984 | $1,462/mo | 83% |
| DeKalb County, IL | 35 mi | $70,724 | $1,049/mo | 61% |
Places inside DuPage County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 35 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of DuPage County residents live in one of the 35. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $76,905 in Oakbrook Terrace to $250,001 in Hinsdale. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other DuPage County community.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | city | 179,898 | $93,633 | $1,596 | 12 mi |
| Naperville | city | 150,692 | $155,105 | $1,885 | 8 mi |
| Schaumburg | village | 76,868 | $97,514 | $1,812 | 12 mi |
| Bolingbrook | village | 74,096 | $108,400 | $1,749 | 11 mi |
| Wheaton | city | 53,557 | $120,008 | $1,799 | 1 mi |
| Downers Grove | village | 50,054 | $115,114 | $1,656 | 5 mi |
| Elmhurst | city | 45,671 | $149,644 | $1,975 | 8 mi |
| Lombard | village | 43,619 | $100,362 | $1,948 | 4 mi |
| Bartlett | village | 40,501 | $133,240 | $1,883 | 9 mi |
| Carol Stream | village | 39,460 | $102,309 | $1,529 | 5 mi |
| Hanover Park | village | 36,732 | $91,763 | $1,594 | 9 mi |
| Addison | village | 35,489 | $90,431 | $1,245 | 7 mi |
| Woodridge | village | 33,941 | $101,000 | $1,494 | 8 mi |
| Glendale Heights | village | 32,808 | $86,545 | $1,590 | 5 mi |
Debt-to-income at DuPage County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to DuPage County's medians:
- $112,096 a year is $9,341 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,688 uses 18%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,329 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of DuPage County's.
Borrowing situations common in DuPage County
A few patterns in the DuPage County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent DuPage County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 55% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 45% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
DuPage County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 52% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | DuPage County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.8% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of DuPage County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
Checking a lender's license in Illinois
No county office licenses personal lenders. For DuPage County, check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Illinois license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
City guides inside DuPage County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is DuPage County a high-income county?
Its $112,096 median ranks 1st of 102 Illinois counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in DuPage County?
$1,688 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Does this page cover Aurora?
Yes, along with the other 34 Census places in DuPage County, such as Naperville, Schaumburg, Bolingbrook.
Can DuPage County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Illinois county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in DuPage County check a lender's license?
With the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.