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.

Rockford, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

147,521

Median Agei

37.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

49.6%73,144

Hispanic/Latino

21.6%31,816

Black

19.2%28,272

Two or More

5.5%8,114

Asian

3.7%5,401

Other

0.3%477

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%226

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%71

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.6%6,532

High School Diploma

23.7%23,409

Some College (<1 yr)

7.8%7,650

Some College (1+ yr)

14.5%14,289

Associate's Degree

8.8%8,654

Bachelor's Degree

14.5%14,295

Master's Degree

6.3%6,184

Professional Degree

1.9%1,890

Doctorate

0.8%761

HS or Higher

84.9%

BA or Higher

23.5%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$129,000

Median Renti

$985

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

54.9%33,697

Renter-Occupied

45.1%27,627

Total Units

67,423

Homeownership

54.9%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

8.7%2,944

$50K–$100K

25.4%8,569

$100K–$150K

24.4%8,213

$150K–$200K

18.6%6,281

$200K–$300K

15.1%5,102

$300K–$500K

6%2,029

$500K–$1M

1.4%465

$1M+

0.3%94

Rent Distribution

Under $500

2,526

$500–$750

3,593

$750–$1,000

7,573

$1,000–$1,250

5,700

$1,250–$1,500

3,766

$1,500–$2,000

2,408

$2,000+

928

Year Built

2020 or later

0.1%84

2010–2019

1.5%1,013

2000–2009

6%4,019

1990–1999

8.9%6,013

1980–1989

9.2%6,215

1970–1979

14%9,425

1960–1969

13.8%9,275

1950–1959

16.5%11,146

1940–1949

7.6%5,140

1939 or earlier

22.4%15,093

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

82.4%50,539

Electricity

14.8%9,083

No Fuel

1.2%718

Bottled/LP Gas

1%615

Other

0.4%249

Solar

0.1%73

Wood

0%26

Fuel Oil

0%21

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$54,752

Mean Household Incomei

$74,515

Per Capita Incomei

$31,263

Poverty Ratei

20.8%

Unemploymenti

8.5%

Labor Forcei

69,004

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.4%4,568

$10K–$15K

6%3,708

$15K–$20K

4.9%2,986

$20K–$25K

5.5%3,390

$25K–$30K

3.7%2,241

$30K–$35K

5.7%3,493

$35K–$40K

5%3,055

$40K–$45K

4.5%2,760

$45K–$50K

4%2,468

$50K–$60K

6.8%4,145

$60K–$75K

11.1%6,796

$75K–$100K

12.3%7,560

$100K–$125K

7.9%4,863

$125K–$150K

4.6%2,809

$150K–$200K

5.6%3,449

$200K+

4.9%3,033

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

5,664

Residentsi

9,494

Avg. Tenant Renti

$366/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

23 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing1,156 homes94% occupied$351/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers2,788 homes69% occupied$392/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 81,518 homes95% occupied$322/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC138 homes99% occupied$432/mo rent

811/PRAC65 homes97% occupied$399/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $54,752/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

76.2%

Very low income$16K–$27K/yr

18.5%

Low income$27K–$44K/yr

4.9%

Moderate / aboveOver $44K/yr

0.4%

Who Receives This Housing

75.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

71.1% of subsidized households are minority

21% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

32.8% 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

18,56012.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

8,056

India

738

Philippines

462

China

447

United Kingdom

289

Canada

285

Poland

271

Korea

193

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

61,487

Avg. Commutei

21.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

63,139

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

6,277(5.6% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

92.8%Insured

7.2%Uninsured