Kankakee County, Illinois Income Statistics
Kankakee County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Kankakee County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Kankakee County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,136 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,040 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.4% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.3% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Kankakee County is about 14% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Kankakee County (3.4%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Kankakee County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Kankakee County, Illinois grew by 41.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,136 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Kankakee County
| Metric | Kankakee County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.539 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,884 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,483 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.0% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Kankakee County, it is 0.539, lower than Illinois's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Kankakee County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $609,035 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kankakee County, Illinois has narrowed from about 34% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 23% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $881 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Kankakee County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.1% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 2,604 people are unemployed in Kankakee County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Kankakee County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Kankakee County, Illinois has fallen from 10.7% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.5% in 2013.
Kankakee County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Kankakee County, IL is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 106,635 residents against a local median of 53,223. Where Kankakee County, IL breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 22% below the local median of 4.4%/yr at 3.4%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.1%/yr on income growth, so Kankakee County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Kankakee County, IL has the 6th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee County, IL | 106,635 | $72,136 #4/6 | 3.4%/yr #6/6 | 4.9% #4/6 | 0.539 #5/6 |
| Will County, IL | 701,595 | $109,769 | 4.4%/yr | 4.9% | 0.538 |
| Iroquois County, IL | 26,449 | $66,798 | 4.2%/yr | 4.5% | 0.516 |
| Newton County, IN | 13,922 | $75,394 | 5.3%/yr | 6.5% | 0.524 |
| Grundy County, IL | 53,223 | $92,779 | 4.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.519 |
| Lake County, IN | 498,291 | $71,540 | 4.4%/yr | 6.1% | 0.553 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Kankakee County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Illinois, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Kankakee County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Kankakee County, Illinois?
Kankakee County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $72,136, about 14% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
How fast is household income rising in Kankakee County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Kankakee County, Illinois rose 42%, from $50,972 to $72,136. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +42% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Kankakee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Kankakee County, Illinois was $69,535, up 6% from $65,872 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Kankakee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Kankakee County, Illinois was $59,437. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $72,136.
What is the Gini coefficient in Kankakee County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Kankakee County is 0.539. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Kankakee County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kankakee County, Illinois has narrowed from about 34% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 23% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $881 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →