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Loves Park: Demographics & People

About 23,502 people live in Loves Park, in 10,302 households. Population grew 1.4% from 23,185 (2022) to 23,502 (2024). Median age 37.2 years. (2.4y younger than Winnebago County; 0.5y younger than Illinois). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 71% White (non-Hispanic) and 11% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.38). 57% 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 1.4% from 23,185 (2022) to 23,502 (2024) — about 2.3× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~23,825 (extrapolated at 0.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 24,260.

Census data vintage2024
Population53,448 people
Annual growth rate · Population change1.4%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)23,185
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)23,502
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorygrowing
Population23,502 people (vs Illinois 39,460)
Population Estimate24,260

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

Age Distribution

Median age 37.2y is 1.7 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age37.2 years (vs Illinois 37.7y)
Age Summary · Children Pct20.4%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop23,502
Age Summary · Under 184,789
Age Summary · 18 To 346,182.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 648,181.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus4,350
Population under 184,789
Median age37.2 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 23,502 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.38 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.

White residents17,157
Black residents1,963
Asian residents917
Hispanic or Latino residents2,119
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)38.2%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelsomewhat diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share77.4%
Asian population3.0% (vs Illinois 6.1%)
Black population7.1% (vs Illinois 9.3%)
Hispanic or Latino population10.7% (vs Illinois 17.6%)
White (non-Hispanic) population71.0% (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)
English
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
Polish

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 8% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state16,080
Residents born in another state5,451
Share born in this state68.4%
Share born in another state31.6%
Native-born U.S. citizens23.2%
Foreign-born residents0.3%
Naturalized citizens8.1%
Total foreign-born residents1,834
From Europe719
From Africa628

Households & Family Composition

10,302 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 57% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 5,629 families, 21% are married couples with children.

Children under 184,615
Total families5,629
Married couples with children1,203
Single-parent households316
Average household size2.31
Women who gave birth (past year)14.6%
Grandparents living with grandchildren370
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren274
Family households5,830 households (vs Illinois 9,709)
Households that are families56.6% (vs Illinois 62.4%)
Total households10,302 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. 12.8% 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)12.8%
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 disability1,345
Disability rate5.9%

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. 174 residents live in group quarters (0.7% of population).

Living in group quarters174

Other

Congressional District · District16
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 · Score4.60
Family Score · Schools6
Family Score · Childcare Centers2
Family Score · Children Pct20.4%
Family Score · Ratingfair
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 23,502, growing, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed
Town Summary · Population23,502 people (vs Illinois 39,460)
Town Summary · CountyBoone County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade