Lee: Demographics & People
320 people call Lee home, in 120 households. Population shrank 3.6% from 332 (2022) to 320 (2024). Median age 40.2 years. (2.9y younger than Lee County; 2.5y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 76% White (non-Hispanic) and 13% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.26). 79% of households are family-led. County is losing 518 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.7 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 21% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 66 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 3.6% from 332 (2022) to 320 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~308 (extrapolated at -1.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 293.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 100,420 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -3.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 332 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 320 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 320 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 293 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.2y is 1.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.2 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 320 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 77 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 71.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 122.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 50 |
| Population under 18 | 77 |
| Median age | 40.2 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 320 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.26 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 277 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 15 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 33 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 26.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 85.2% |
| Black population | 5.9% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 12.8% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 75.9% (vs Illinois 54.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 270 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 43 |
| Share born in this state | 84.4% |
| Share born in another state | 15.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 13.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 2 |
| From Europe | 2 |
Households & Family Composition
120 households. Averaging 3.0 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 79% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 94 families, 24% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 89 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 94 |
| Married couples with children | 23 |
| Single-parent households | 2 |
| Average household size | 2.96 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 4.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 3 |
| Family households | 95 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 79.2% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 120 households (vs Illinois 14,867) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 1.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 518 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 1.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 92,754 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 93,272 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -518 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 29 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.9% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 16 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | IL-16 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | De Kalb |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 7.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.60 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17037 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | DeKalb County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,931 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17037 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | DeKalb County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 62.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 57.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 56.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 104,897 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 320, declining, established, upper-middle, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 320 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | DeKalb County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade