Braidwood: Demographics & People
6,062 people call Braidwood home, in 2,584 households. Population shrank 1.8% from 6,175 (2022) to 6,062 (2024). Median age 46.3 years. (7.2y older than Will County; 8.6y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 18% of the population. Population is 86% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.16). 65% of households are family-led. County health: 35% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 35% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 60 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.8% from 6,175 (2022) to 6,062 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~5,951 (extrapolated at -0.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 5,806.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 52,533 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 6,175 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 6,062 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 6,062 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 5,806 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 46.3y is 7.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 18% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 46.3 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 6,062 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,082 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,296.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,503.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,181 |
| Population under 18 | 1,082 |
| Median age | 46.3 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 6,062 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.16 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 5,801 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 11 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 529 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 15.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 91.5% |
| Black population | 3.2% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.1% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 85.9% (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). 0.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 5,256 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 640 |
| Share born in this state | 86.7% |
| Share born in another state | 13.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 10.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 73 |
| From Europe | 41 |
Households & Family Composition
2,584 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 65% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,720 families, 31% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,171 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,720 |
| Married couples with children | 540 |
| Single-parent households | 28 |
| Average household size | 2.42 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 80 |
| Family households | 1,691 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 65.4% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 2,584 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. 8.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 53,347 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 53,341 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 6 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| 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 | 290 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 27 residents live in group quarters (0.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 27 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 16 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17063 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 063 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Grundy |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 11.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 9.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 13.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17063 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Grundy County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,541 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17063 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Grundy County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 64.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 59.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 52.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 51,054 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 6,062, declining, established, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 6,062 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Grundy County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade