State rank#7 of 102
Smallest county283,292 residentsCook County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 17201
Winnebago County, Illinois
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population283,292
Household income$65,837
Unemployment5.6%
Life expectancy74.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Winnebago County has 283,292 residents and ranks #7 by population among Illinois county equivalents. Median household income is $65,837. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.6%. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access. 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.
Relocation guide
Moving to Winnebago 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 Winnebago 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 primary care access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $164,500 median home value and $1,021/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,837, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Winnebago County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 25.2% and life expectancy is 74.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,423 residents, rank #16 of 94 available Illinois counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.2%, rank #28 of 102 available Illinois counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 416 residents, rank #39 of 97 available Illinois counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Poor or fair health: 22.2%, rank #98 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 5.6%, rank #94 of 102; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,021/mo, rank #86 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
$65,837
$65,837; below the state county median of $66,532.
State rank #59 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$164,500
$164,500; above the state county median of $134,650.
State rank #74 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,021/mo
$1,021/mo; above the state county median of $811/mo.
State rank #86 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
5.6%
5.6%; above the state county median of 4.6%.
State rank #94 of 102 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
25.2%
25.2%; above the state county median of 20.9%.
State rank #28 of 102 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
74.5 years
74.5 years; below the state county median of 75.9 years.
State rank #84 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
22.2%
22.2%; above the state county median of 18%.
State rank #98 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.1%
7.1%; above the state county median of 6%.
State rank #82 of 102 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,423 residents
1 per 1,423 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,412 residents.
State rank #16 of 94 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 416 residents
1 per 416 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 528 residents.
State rank #39 of 97 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Winnebago County FAQ
Is Winnebago County a good place to live?
Winnebago County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, bachelor’s degree or higher, and mental health access. College attainment is 25.2% and life expectancy is 74.5 years.
What should I know before moving to Winnebago County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $164,500 median home value and $1,021/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,837, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Winnebago County?
Winnebago County has 283,292 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Winnebago County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 17201; the parent state FIPS is 17.
What is the median household income in Winnebago County?
The ACS median household income is $65,837.
How much does housing cost in Winnebago County?
Housing benchmarks are $164,500 median home value and $1,021/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $65,837, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Winnebago County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.6%.
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.
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