Rockford: Demographics & People
Census counts 147,521 people in Rockford, in 61,324 households. Population shrank 0.1% from 147,649 (2022) to 147,521 (2024). Median age 37.7 years. (1.9y younger than Winnebago County). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 50% White (non-Hispanic) and 22% Hispanic or Latino. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.61). 57% of households are family-led. County is losing 198 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 43% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 72 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.1% from 147,649 (2022) to 147,521 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~147,388 (extrapolated at -0.0%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 51,788 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 147,649 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 147,521 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 147,521 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 147,206 |
| Population Note | Census Place population (148,655) covers all 2 counties, not just Ogle County |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.7y is 1.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 37.7 years (at Illinois median) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 147,521 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 35,677 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 33,283.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 52,361.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 26,200 |
| Population under 18 | 35,677 |
| Median age | 37.7 years (at Illinois median) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 147,521 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.61 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 81,933 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 32,214 |
| Asian residents | 5,419 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 30,387 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 61.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 54.6% |
| Asian population | 3.7% (vs Illinois 6.1%) |
| Black population | 19.2% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 21.6% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 49.6% (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). 1.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 13% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 102,099 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 25,053 |
| Share born in this state | 69.2% |
| Share born in another state | 30.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 17.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 12.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 17,701 |
| From Europe | 1,687 |
| From Asia | 20 |
| From Africa | 4,708 |
| From Latin America | 105 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 255 |
Households & Family Composition
61,324 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 35,572 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 36,025 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 35,572 |
| Married couples with children | 7,299 |
| Single-parent households | 1,407 |
| Average household size | 2.34 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 3,413 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 1,352 |
| Family households | 35,175 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 57.4% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 61,324 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. 14.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 198 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 14.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 49,474 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 49,672 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -198 |
| 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 | 11,375 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.8% |
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. 3,744 residents live in group quarters (2.5% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3,744 |
|---|
Other
| Census Counties | Ogle County, Winnebago County |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · District | 17 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17141 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 141 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Ogle |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 12.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 10.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 15.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17141 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Ogle County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,776 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17141 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Ogle County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 63.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 59.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 58.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 50,643 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 45 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 18 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 147,521, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 147,521 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Ogle County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade