1st Advantage MortgageIn Kendall County, Illinois, the typical household earns $111,601 a year and the typical rent is $1,781. 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
- Kendall County, IL: the basics
- Income in Kendall County compared with Illinois
- Labor force snapshot: Kendall County
- Kendall County housing compared with Illinois
- Where Kendall County differs from the rest of Illinois
- Regional comparison for Kendall County
- Kendall County towns compared
- Kendall County demographics against Illinois
- What the numbers mean for Kendall County borrowers
- $9,300 a month: the Kendall County median budget
- A Kendall County borrower's checklist
- Verifying a lender from Kendall County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kendall County, IL: the basics
With an estimated 137,675 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kendall County ranks 15th of 102 in Illinois for population. Land area is 320 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 430 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (11 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Plainfield, with about 46,708 residents, or 34% of the county.
Income in Kendall County compared with Illinois
Median household income in Kendall County: $111,601 (34% above Illinois, $83,390). In the state ranking that is 2nd of 102.
| Yearly household income | Kendall County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 8.5% | -12.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.5% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 39.5% | +11.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.4% | +2.5 pts |
Some 9% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 56% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, Kendall County: 5.4%; Illinois: 11.8%. Kendall County scores 0.361 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. None of these numbers decides a Kendall County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Labor force snapshot: Kendall County
The biggest employer of Kendall County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward retail trade (13% against 10%). 4.3% of Kendall County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. About 77% drive to work alone and 27% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kendall County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +1.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Kendall County housing compared with Illinois
Renters in Kendall County pay a median of $1,781 a month, 40% above the Illinois figure of $1,274. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 52% in Kendall County, 48% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $322,400, about 2.9 times the median household income. 84% of Kendall County households own their home and 16% rent. Median construction year: 2001.
| Measure | Kendall County | Illinois | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 84% | 67% | +16.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 48% | +4.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,781/mo | $1,274/mo | 40% higher |
| Median home value | $322,400 | $263,300 | 22% higher |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 27% | +1.3 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Kendall County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Where Kendall County differs from the rest of Illinois
Out of every Illinois county, Kendall County is most unusual on these measures.
- The housing vacancy rate: 3% in Kendall County, the lowest of 102 in Illinois. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
- The poverty rate: 5.4% in Kendall County. Only 1 of 102 Illinois counties are lower. Even here, a fee-first loan offer is a scam.
- On the share of households earning $100,000 or more, Kendall County sits near the top of Illinois at 56%, the highest of 102. High earners still overpay when they skip comparing offers.
Regional comparison for Kendall County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Kendall County's, from 20 to 29 miles away. Income ranges from $70,724 in DeKalb County to $112,096 in DuPage County; 1 of these neighbors top Kendall County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kendall County | - | $111,601 | $1,781/mo | 84% |
| Grundy County, IL | 20 mi | $92,235 | $1,177/mo | 74% |
| Kane County, IL | 24 mi | $103,163 | $1,453/mo | 76% |
| Will County, IL | 25 mi | $109,984 | $1,462/mo | 83% |
| DuPage County, IL | 25 mi | $112,096 | $1,688/mo | 73% |
| DeKalb County, IL | 27 mi | $70,724 | $1,049/mo | 61% |
| LaSalle County, IL | 29 mi | $73,045 | $928/mo | 74% |
Kendall County towns compared
159,334 of Kendall County's 137,675 residents live in its 12 Census places (100%); the 12 largest are listed. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $63,623, Plainfield over Boulder Hill. Rent is cheapest in Newark ($1,006) and steepest in Plainfield ($2,119). No Kendall County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield | village | 46,708 | $144,000 | $2,119 | 10 mi |
| Oswego | village | 36,375 | $123,792 | $1,860 | 8 mi |
| Yorkville | city | 23,617 | $108,513 | $1,662 | 5 mi |
| Montgomery | village | 21,515 | $103,734 | $1,984 | 10 mi |
| Plano | city | 12,203 | $86,271 | $1,686 | 8 mi |
| Boulder Hill | CDP | 8,989 | $80,377 | $1,633 | 10 mi |
| Sandwich | city | 7,219 | $80,768 | $1,029 | 11 mi |
| Newark | village | 1,138 | $99,375 | $1,006 | 9 mi |
| Millington | village | 729 | $81,775 | $1,135 | 9 mi |
| Lisbon | village | 373 | $99,375 | $963 | 8 mi |
| Millbrook | village | 243 | $137,560 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Plattville | village | 225 | $113,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
Kendall County demographics against Illinois
Degree holders: 37% of adults over 25. Health coverage gaps: 4.0% of Kendall County residents are uninsured.
| Indicator | Kendall County | +/- Illinois | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | -2.7 yrs | -5.2 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.9% | -0.9 pts | +14.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | -3.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | -2.9 pts | -3.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | -8.8 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Work from home | 14.7% | -1.1 pts | +6.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | -6.4 pts | -7.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | -1.5 pts | -0.1 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Kendall County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.6% |
What the numbers mean for Kendall County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Kendall County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 27% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Kendall County budgets.
- 56% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Kendall County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
$9,300 a month: the Kendall County median budget
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kendall County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $9,300 a month: gross income for a household at the Kendall County median
- Less median rent of $1,781, which is 19% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $3,348 total minus rent leaves $1,567
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Kendall County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
A Kendall County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Kendall County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Illinois license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Verifying a lender from Kendall County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Kendall County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Illinois page has statewide figures to set beside Kendall County's.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Kendall County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Kendall County household make?
About $111,601 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% above the Illinois median.
How much is rent in Kendall County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,781 a month; 52% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Kendall County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Plainfield, Oswego, Yorkville, Montgomery, Plano and 7 more.
Are Kendall County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Kendall County residents?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Illinois; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.