Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Oswego, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

36,375

Median Agei

38.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

62.4%22,713

Hispanic/Latino

17.9%6,507

Black

10.1%3,689

Two or More

4.9%1,780

Asian

4.4%1,612

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%61

Other

0%13

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.5%571

High School Diploma

18%4,191

Some College (<1 yr)

7.1%1,649

Some College (1+ yr)

14.8%3,434

Associate's Degree

9.8%2,268

Bachelor's Degree

26.7%6,211

Master's Degree

14.4%3,337

Professional Degree

1.2%275

Doctorate

2%476

HS or Higher

96.4%

BA or Higher

44.3%

Graduate+

17.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$344,500

Median Renti

$1,860

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

87.9%10,759

Renter-Occupied

12.1%1,484

Total Units

12,440

Homeownership

87.9%

Vacancy Rate

1.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.1%221

$50K–$100K

0.1%15

$100K–$150K

0.7%76

$150K–$200K

3.9%420

$200K–$300K

27%2,901

$300K–$500K

57.6%6,196

$500K–$1M

8.6%923

$1M+

0.1%7

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

158

$1,250–$1,500

159

$1,500–$2,000

364

$2,000+

619

Year Built

2020 or later

2.8%353

2010–2019

10.7%1,336

2000–2009

45.1%5,616

1990–1999

25.5%3,172

1980–1989

4.3%540

1970–1979

3.5%436

1960–1969

2.4%295

1950–1959

2.1%260

1940–1949

0.2%31

1939 or earlier

3.2%401

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

93.2%11,413

Electricity

5.2%639

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%106

Other

0.5%65

No Fuel

0.2%20

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$123,792

Mean Household Incomei

$138,748

Per Capita Incomei

$47,866

Poverty Ratei

2.6%

Unemploymenti

2.6%

Labor Forcei

19,835

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.3%279

$10K–$15K

0.9%112

$15K–$20K

0.3%38

$20K–$25K

0.2%26

$25K–$30K

1.3%156

$30K–$35K

1.3%158

$35K–$40K

1.6%194

$40K–$45K

2.6%324

$45K–$50K

1.1%137

$50K–$60K

5.9%720

$60K–$75K

9.5%1,166

$75K–$100K

12.1%1,477

$100K–$125K

11.6%1,420

$125K–$150K

11.6%1,417

$150K–$200K

18.5%2,265

$200K+

19.2%2,354

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Residentsi

Avg. Tenant Renti

$724/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

2 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers43 homes82% occupied$724/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $123,792/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $37K/yr

85%

Very low income$37K–$62K/yr

15%

Who Receives This Housing

93% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

75% of subsidized households are minority

29% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

48% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

5,20314.3%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,860

India

499

Philippines

281

Poland

137

Germany

China

Canada

Guatemala

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

18,903

Avg. Commutei

31.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

19,315

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,255(4.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

97%Insured

3%Uninsured