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Cherry Valley: Demographics & People

Cherry Valley is home to 3,749 people, in 1,478 households. Population grew 14.7% from 3,268 (2022) to 3,749 (2024). Median age 45.1 years. (5.5y older than Winnebago County; 7.4y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 18% of the population. Population is 67% White (non-Hispanic) and 17% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.48). 65% of households are family-led. County is losing 270 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 17% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 14.7% from 3,268 (2022) to 3,749 (2024) — about 24.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~4,321 (extrapolated at 7.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 5,165.

Census data vintage2024
Population53,448 people
Annual growth rate · Population change14.7%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)3,268
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)3,749
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorybooming
Population3,749 people (vs Illinois 39,460)
Population Estimate5,165

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 45.1y is 6.2 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 age45.1 years (vs Illinois 37.7y)
Age Summary · Children Pct18.2%
Age Summary · Characterestablished
Age Summary · Total Pop3,749
Age Summary · Under 18684
Age Summary · 18 To 341,013.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 641,286.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus766
Population under 18684
Median age45.1 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 3,749 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.48 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.

White residents2,100
Black residents364
Asian residents41
Hispanic or Latino residents544
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)47.9%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelmoderately diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share68.9%
Asian population1.5% (vs Illinois 6.1%)
Black population7.3% (vs Illinois 9.3%)
Hispanic or Latino population16.6% (vs Illinois 17.6%)
White (non-Hispanic) population66.8% (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)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
Polish

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 10% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state2,303
Residents born in another state997
Share born in this state61.4%
Share born in another state38.6%
Native-born U.S. citizens26.6%
Foreign-born residents2.0%
Naturalized citizens9.9%
Total foreign-born residents251
From Europe43
From Africa60

Households & Family Composition

1,478 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 65% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 783 families, 23% are married couples with children.

Children under 18656
Total families783
Married couples with children179
Single-parent households16
Average household size2.45
Women who gave birth (past year)10.2%
Grandparents living with grandchildren82
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren82
Family households955 households (vs Illinois 9,709)
Households that are families64.6% (vs Illinois 62.4%)
Total households1,478 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. 14.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 270 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)14.2%
Migration · People moving in (annual)53,157
Migration · People moving out (annual)53,427
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-270
Migration · Year2022-2023

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 disability149
Disability rate5.1%

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. 117 residents live in group quarters (3.1% of population).

Living in group quarters117

Other

Congressional District · District16
Congressional District · FormattedIL-16
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips17007
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips17
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips007
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyBoone
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate12.9%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci10.70
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci15.40
Cdc Mortality · Fips17007
Cdc Mortality · CountyBoone County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralMedium metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20231,206
Cdc Vaccination · Fips17007
Cdc Vaccination · CountyBoone County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct68.2%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct63.2%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct55.2%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 201953,544
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score10
Family Score · Schools20
Family Score · Childcare Centers1
Family Score · Children Pct18.2%
Family Score · Ratingexcellent
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 3,749, booming, established, middle-class, mixed
Town Summary · Population3,749 people (vs Illinois 39,460)
Town Summary · CountyBoone County

Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade