Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 17091

Kankakee County, Illinois

County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.

Population106,635
Household income$71,281
Unemployment5.7%
Life expectancy74.6 years

County overview

Living metrics at a glance

Kankakee County has 106,635 residents and ranks #18 by population among Illinois county equivalents. Median household income is $71,281. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.7%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.

Within Illinois

County population range

The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.

State rank#18 of 102
Smallest county106,635 residentsCook County

Relocation guide

Moving to Kankakee County: what to check

Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.

Before moving

Before moving, compare municipalities inside Kankakee County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.

Cost and housing

Housing benchmarks are $192,600 median home value and $1,097/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,281, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

Who it may suit

Kankakee County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 21.2% and life expectancy is 74.6 years.

Potential advantages

  • Median household income: $71,281, rank #40 of 102 available Illinois counties.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2%, rank #47 of 102 available Illinois counties.
  • Mental health access: 1 per 469 residents, rank #45 of 97 available Illinois counties.

Trade-offs to check

  • Unemployment rate: 5.7%, rank #95 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
  • Median gross rent: $1,097/mo, rank #94 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
  • Median home value: $192,600, rank #87 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.

Income, housing, jobs, education & health

County metrics within Illinois

Rank and range use only counties in Illinois with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.

Median household income $71,281

$71,281; above the state county median of $66,532.

State rank #40 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value $192,600

$192,600; above the state county median of $134,650.

State rank #87 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent $1,097/mo

$1,097/mo; above the state county median of $811/mo.

State rank #94 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate 5.7%

5.7%; above the state county median of 4.6%.

State rank #95 of 102 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher 21.2%

21.2%; above the state county median of 20.9%.

State rank #47 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy 74.6 years

74.6 years; below the state county median of 75.9 years.

State rank #83 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health 19.1%

19.1%; above the state county median of 18%.

State rank #73 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured 6.7%

6.7%; above the state county median of 6%.

State rank #74 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access 1 per 2,881 residents

1 per 2,881 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,412 residents.

State rank #61 of 94 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access 1 per 469 residents

1 per 469 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 528 residents.

State rank #45 of 97 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Common questions

Kankakee County FAQ

Is Kankakee County a good place to live?

Kankakee County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 21.2% and life expectancy is 74.6 years.

What should I know before moving to Kankakee County?

Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $192,600 median home value and $1,097/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,281, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

What is the population of Kankakee County?

Kankakee County has 106,635 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.

What is the FIPS code for Kankakee County?

The five-digit county FIPS code is 17091; the parent state FIPS is 17.

What is the median household income in Kankakee County?

The ACS median household income is $71,281.

How much does housing cost in Kankakee County?

Housing benchmarks are $192,600 median home value and $1,097/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $71,281, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.

What is the unemployment rate in Kankakee County?

The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.7%.

Similar population

Nearby counties in the state ranking

Source and gate

Methodology and source periods

All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.

Continue exploring

See the state context