Illinois · GEOID 17103

Lee County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 33,869 · 14,995 housing units

Median household income

$70,292

State $84,845

Median home value

$154,600

State $269,776

Median gross rent

$894

State $1,303

Homeownership rate

73.6%

State 67.1%

Renter cost-burden rate

42.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

2.9%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.4%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

11.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.20

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Lee County	Illinois
Population	33,869	12,694,798
Population density (per sq. mi.)	46.73	—
Median household income	$70,292	$84,845
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$93,100	—
Households	13,337	—
Average household size	2.34 people	—
Owner-occupied	73.6%	67.1%
Renter-occupied	26.4%	32.9%
Race	85.8% White · 5.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Lee County compared with Illinois.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

19.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 37.8%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	18.2%	$57,974	$1,449	$184,779
1 earner	28.6%	$60,702	$1,518	$194,934
2 earners	41.0%	$109,958	$2,749	$378,281
3+ earners	12.2%	$138,462	$3,462	$484,383

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

13,337

Average size: 2.34 people

Households with children

3,313

24.8% of households

Per-capita income

$35,945

Poverty rate: 12.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

73.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 80.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

72.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,960.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $154,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $894.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,658 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 17.9% · For rent 17.1% · Seasonal 17.9% · Other 38.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

44.1% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 55.9% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.0%

296 units of 14,995 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.2%

631 units of 14,995 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$56,234

100% MHI$70,292

120% MHI$84,350

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Lee County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$52,150	$59,600	$74,500
100% AMI	$65,170	$74,480	$93,100
120% AMI	$78,200	$89,400	$111,700

HUD FMR Area: Lee County, IL. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

42.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.7% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Lee County.

Covered employment

8,603

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

612

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$54,515

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	3,063	$72,377	$238,392	+$83,792	$1,809
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	1,248	$39,039	$114,297	−$40,303	$976
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	936	$45,791	$139,430	−$15,170	$1,145
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	837	$20,196	$44,157	−$110,443	$505
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	688	$64,955	$210,765	+$56,165	$1,624
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	470	$32,871	$91,338	−$63,262	$822
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	226	$61,665	$198,519	+$43,919	$1,542
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	206	$54,449	$171,658	+$17,058	$1,361
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	191	$50,508	$156,988	+$2,388	$1,263
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	191	$50,939	$158,593	+$3,993	$1,273
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	157	$50,755	$157,908	+$3,308	$1,269
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	149	$82,385	$275,645	+$121,045	$2,060
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	69	$18,020	$36,057	−$118,543	$451
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	49	$110,352	$379,748	+$225,148	$2,759
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	42	$43,837	$132,157	−$22,443	$1,096
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	34	$98,656	$336,212	+$181,612	$2,466
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	19	$40,351	$119,181	−$35,419	$1,009
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	19	$35,402	$100,759	−$53,841	$885
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	9	$68,658	$224,549	+$69,949	$1,716

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,056	$79,564	$265,145	+$110,545	$1,989
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	936	$45,791	$139,430	−$15,170	$1,145
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	848	$66,024	$214,744	+$60,144	$1,651
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	804	$20,047	$43,602	−$110,998	$501
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	657	$69,558	$227,899	+$73,299	$1,739
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	487	$64,175	$207,862	+$53,262	$1,604
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	470	$46,397	$141,686	−$12,914	$1,160
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	463	$55,638	$176,084	+$21,484	$1,391
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	407	$28,652	$75,633	−$78,967	$716
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	407	$25,260	$63,007	−$91,593	$632
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	404	$55,646	$176,114	+$21,514	$1,391
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	255	$28,107	$73,604	−$80,996	$703
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	177	$71,189	$233,970	+$79,370	$1,780
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	150	$26,577	$67,909	−$86,691	$664
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	149	$82,385	$275,645	+$121,045	$2,060
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	146	$47,059	$144,150	−$10,450	$1,176
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	121	$24,936	$61,801	−$92,799	$623
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	115	$52,408	$164,061	+$9,461	$1,310
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	109	$38,385	$111,862	−$42,738	$960
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	108	$62,331	$200,998	+$46,398	$1,558
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	105	$57,530	$183,127	+$28,527	$1,438
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	86	$48,863	$150,865	−$3,735	$1,222
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	71	$22,118	$51,311	−$103,289	$553
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	64	$66,409	$216,177	+$61,577	$1,660
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	63	$52,750	$165,334	+$10,734	$1,319
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	63	$21,281	$48,196	−$106,404	$532
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	59	$60,987	$195,995	+$41,395	$1,525
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	48	$12,704	$16,269	−$138,331	$318
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	36	$44,157	$133,348	−$21,252	$1,104
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	36	$65,292	$212,019	+$57,419	$1,632
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	34	$98,656	$336,212	+$181,612	$2,466
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	34	$23,126	$55,063	−$99,537	$578
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	19	$35,402	$100,759	−$53,841	$885
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	15	$64,910	$210,598	+$55,998	$1,623
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	6	$11,771	$12,796	−$141,804	$294
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	5	$68,292	$223,186	+$68,586	$1,707
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	4	$69,117	$226,257	+$71,657	$1,728

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,730	(260)	(9%)	$15.64	$32,530	$90,068	$813
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,280	1,030	32%	$15.83	$32,930	$91,557	$823
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	490	60	14%	$16.53	$34,380	$96,955	$860
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,800	(310)	(15%)	$16.63	$34,590	$97,736	$865
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,610	(1,320)	(34%)	$17.65	$36,720	$105,665	$918
Tellers SOC 43-3071	710	(360)	(34%)	$18.36	$38,190	$111,137	$955
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,060	(430)	(17%)	$18.37	$38,210	$111,211	$955
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,990	(550)	(22%)	$20.41	$42,440	$126,957	$1,061
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,010	(680)	(25%)	$21.45	$44,620	$135,071	$1,116
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	160	(370)	(70%)	$21.99	$45,750	$139,278	$1,144
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,110	420	25%	$26.69	$55,520	$175,645	$1,388
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,890	(320)	(10%)	$27.56	$57,330	$182,382	$1,433
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,930	(230)	(11%)	—	$61,950	$199,579	$1,549
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	430	(460)	(52%)	$30.62	$63,690	$206,056	$1,592
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,110	250	29%	$31.09	$64,660	$209,667	$1,617
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	680	(10)	(1%)	$32.10	$66,760	$217,484	$1,669
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	500	(50)	(9%)	$33.07	$68,780	$225,003	$1,720
Electricians SOC 47-2111	620	(50)	(7%)	$40.18	$83,580	$280,094	$2,090
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,340	(300)	(11%)	$40.99	$85,250	$286,310	$2,131
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	450	20	5%	$42.06	$87,480	$294,611	$2,187

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 17103 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.