Population
171,419
2025
+0.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
McLean County, IL: population growth, jobs and income
McLean County lost 93 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.1%).
McLean County had an estimated 171,419 residents in 2025, up 0.1% (209 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Illinois as a whole (−0.6%), and the 18th fastest growth of 102 counties in Illinois.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the McLean County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for McLean County, ranked against Illinois and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,009/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes6.8%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1762025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−1,082
2025
−6.3 per 1,000 residents
−4,724 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
2025
+0.4 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
269
2025
−4.9% since 2021
1.6 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$79,905
2020–24
+17.4% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
75,617
2023
+2.0% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 1,082 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 75,617 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.9% in 2025, 0.4 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 269 new homes in 2025, or 1.6 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $79,905 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +17.4% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,828th.
Part of the Bloomington, IL metro area.
Get McLean County’s next numbers by email
Email me when McLean County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
McLean County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 171,419 | −93 |
| 2024 | 171,512 | +581 |
| 2023 | 170,931 | −123 |
| 2022 | 171,054 | −259 |
| 2021 | 171,313 | +103 |
| 2020 | 171,210 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in McLean County
McLean County grew by 209 people since 2020 even though 4,724 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 1,309, and net international migration added 3,537.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +318 | +1,309 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +669 | +3,537 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −1,082 | −4,724 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +2 | +87 | |
| Total change | −93 | +209 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Illinois | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 18th of 102 | 1,828th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 96th of 102 | 2,685th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 38th of 102 | 1,589th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 19th of 102 | 587th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 23rd of 102 | 1,403rd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 23rd of 98 | 1,758th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for McLean County, IL as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Champaign County and Tazewell County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the McLean County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, McLean County's population change (+0.1%) was ahead of 6 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Piatt County and Champaign County).
2 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than McLean County's $79,905 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean County, IL This county | 171,419 | +0.1% | −6.3 | 1.6 | $79,905 |
| De Witt County, IL | 15,118 | −2.1% | −1.8 | 0.9 | $71,678 |
| Woodford County, IL | 38,111 | −0.8% | −2.8 | 1.0 | $91,483 |
| Livingston County, IL | 35,057 | −2.1% | −0.5 | 1.4 | $73,790 |
| Piatt County, IL | 16,791 | +0.6% | 10.8 | 2.3 | $94,811 |
| Logan County, IL | 27,182 | −2.5% | 1.7 | 2.4 | $66,358 |
| Tazewell County, IL | 130,049 | −1.0% | 2.5 | 0.9 | $77,982 |
| Ford County, IL | 13,216 | −2.2% | −4.0 | 1.1 | $62,439 |
| Champaign County, IL | 209,972 | +1.8% | −10.7 | 4.1 | $63,683 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is McLean County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 0.1% between 2020 and 2025, about 209 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Illinois as a whole changed −0.6% over the same years. That ranks 18th of 102 counties in Illinois for population growth.
How many people moved to McLean County?
On net, none in 2025: about 1,082 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in McLean County?
It averaged 3.9% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of McLean County?
About 171,419 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in McLean County?
Private employers there had 75,617 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Illinois
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Illinois county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
McLean County data alerts
Email me when McLean County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.