1st Advantage MortgageKankakee County households have a median income of $71,281 and median rent of $1,097 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Kankakee County by the numbers
- Kankakee County housing compared with Illinois
- Paychecks and income spread in Kankakee County
- Jobs and commutes in Kankakee County
- Kankakee County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Kankakee County
- Room for a loan payment in Kankakee County
- People and households in Kankakee County
- Reading the Kankakee County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Kankakee County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kankakee County by the numbers
With an estimated 106,635 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kankakee County ranks 18th of 102 in Illinois for population. Land area is 676 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 158 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Kankakee, IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Kankakee is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 23,996 people (23% of the county total).
Kankakee County housing compared with Illinois
A typical Kankakee County rental runs $1,097 a month including utilities, which is 14% below Illinois. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $192,600, a typical Kankakee County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%.
| Measure | Kankakee County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,097/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $192,600 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.5% | 2.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Kankakee County
At $71,281, the typical Kankakee County household income is 9% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Kankakee County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.1% | -5.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Kankakee County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.2% of Kankakee County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kankakee County median.
Jobs and commutes in Kankakee County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Kankakee County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Kankakee County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kankakee County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.1% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -5.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Kankakee County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Kankakee County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Kankakee County's, from 22 to 40 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Kankakee County; Will County is highest at $109,984 and Iroquois County lowest at $66,255. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kankakee County resident follows Illinois rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee County | - | $71,281 | $1,097/mo | 70% |
| Will County, IL | 22 mi | $109,984 | $1,462/mo | 83% |
| Newton County, IN | 27 mi | $75,481 | $918/mo | 81% |
| Iroquois County, IL | 27 mi | $66,255 | $799/mo | 80% |
| Grundy County, IL | 30 mi | $92,235 | $1,177/mo | 74% |
| Lake County, IN | 34 mi | $71,493 | $1,131/mo | 72% |
| Jasper County, IN | 40 mi | $77,314 | $962/mo | 84% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Kankakee County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 21 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 75% of Kankakee County residents live in one of the 21. Essex has the highest median household income on the list ($108,250) and Hopkins Park the lowest ($30,660), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $661 in Hopkins Park to $1,269 in Bourbonnais. This guide covers each of the 21 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee | city | 23,996 | $47,514 | $1,023 | 3 mi |
| Bourbonnais | village | 18,078 | $81,708 | $1,269 | 3 mi |
| Bradley | village | 15,325 | $67,420 | $1,186 | 2 mi |
| Manteno | village | 9,030 | $97,634 | $1,141 | 8 mi |
| Momence | city | 3,291 | $58,365 | $803 | 10 mi |
| Grant Park | village | 1,449 | $78,385 | $1,177 | 14 mi |
| Limestone | village | 1,419 | $103,906 | $1,182 | 5 mi |
| Herscher | village | 1,246 | $91,667 | $925 | 14 mi |
| St. Anne | village | 1,104 | $83,077 | $921 | 11 mi |
| Essex | village | 1,026 | $108,250 | $1,143 | 17 mi |
| Chebanse | village | 920 | $65,278 | $1,027 | 10 mi |
| Aroma Park | village | 655 | $78,500 | $850 | 5 mi |
| Sun River Terrace | village | 636 | $65,481 | $1,083 | 7 mi |
| Hopkins Park | village | 627 | $30,660 | $661 | 14 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Kankakee County
Here is the Kankakee County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $71,281 a year is $5,940 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,097, takes 18% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,457 a month
If your rent is above $1,097, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Kankakee County
21% of Kankakee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Kankakee County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Kankakee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
Reading the Kankakee County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Kankakee County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Rent squeeze. 47% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Kankakee County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Kankakee County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kankakee County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Illinois state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Kankakee County earn?
The median is $71,281; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Kankakee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,097 against $1,274 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Kankakee?
Yes, along with the other 20 Census places in Kankakee County, such as Bourbonnais, Bradley, Manteno.
Will a Kankakee County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Kankakee County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Illinois it is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.