Aurora, Illinois Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Aurora, Illinois is 179,867 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 2nd-largest city in Illinois. The median household income is $90,109, the median home value is $260,400, and the median age is 35.2.

The population has declined 8.8% since 2010 (198,207 → 180,710).

179,867

Population

3992

People / sq mi

$90,109

Median Income

$260,400

Median Home Value

Aurora covers 45.1 sq mi of land at 3992 people per square mile.

About Aurora, IL

Aurora is a city in Illinois with a population of 179,867. It ranks #2 among cities in Illinois by population. The median age is 35.2, younger than the national median. The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

The median household income in Aurora is $90,109, above the US median of $74,580. 8.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $260,400, with monthly rent averaging $1,535. The homeownership rate of 66.8% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Aurora reflects 37.2% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 14.5% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 28.0 minutes each way.

Aurora city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Aurora city had a population of 198,207 in 2010 and 180,710 in 2024, a -8.8% growth over 14 years. The peak was 200,799 in 2016. Average annual growth rate: -0.63%.

180,710

Population (2024)

198,207

Population (2010)

200,799

Peak (2016)

-0.63%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	198,207	-	-	estimate
2011	199,150	+943	+0.48%	estimate
2012	199,648	+498	+0.25%	estimate
2013	199,803	+155	+0.08%	estimate
2014	200,189	+386	+0.19%	estimate
2015	200,315	+126	+0.06%	estimate
2016	200,799	+484	+0.24%	estimate
2017	200,391	-408	-0.20%	estimate
2018	199,199	-1,192	-0.59%	estimate
2019	197,757	-1,442	-0.72%	estimate
2020	180,260	-17,497	-8.85%	estimate
2021	179,448	-812	-0.45%	estimate
2022	179,195	-253	-0.14%	estimate
2023	179,660	+465	+0.26%	estimate
2024	180,710	+1,050	+0.58%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	42.2%
Black or African American	10.9%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.6%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$90,109

Median Household Income

$39,604

Per Capita Income

8.0%

Poverty Rate

4.3%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$260,400

Median Home Value

$1,535

Median Rent

66.8%

Owner-Occupied

Education

82.1%

High School+

37.2%

Bachelor's+

Commute

3.6%

Drive Alone

67.7%

Public Transit

14.5%

Work From Home

28.0 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

13.9%

Foreign Born

53.3%

Non-English at Home

3.3%

Veterans

9.1%

With Disability

90.3%

Health Insurance

96.8%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management	19.3%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	14.0%
Manufacturing	13.9%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	9.5%
Information	7.6%
Retail Trade	7.4%
Construction	5.2%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	3.9%
Public Administration	2.0%
Transportation & Warehousing	1.6%
Agriculture & Mining	0.3%

Largest cities in Illinois

Chicago (2,707,648)Joliet (149,785)Naperville (149,424)Rockford (147,649)Elgin (114,106)Springfield (113,714)Peoria (112,126)Waukegan (88,919)Champaign (88,822)Cicero (83,223)View all Illinois cities →

Largest counties in Illinois

Cook County (5,185,812)DuPage County (927,263)Lake County (711,885)Will County (698,450)Kane County (516,097)

Part of Illinois

Illinois demographic profile All Illinois data →

Metro areas in Illinois

Chicago (9,359,555)St. Louis (2,809,414)Davenport (381,864)Peoria (365,773)Rockford (336,605)Champaign (236,196)Springfield (207,386)Bloomington (170,882)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Common questions about Aurora, IL

What is the population of Aurora city, IL?What is the median household income in Aurora city, IL?What is the median home value in Aurora city, IL?What are the demographics of Aurora city, IL?What is the cost of living in Aurora city, IL?Is Aurora city, IL growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Aurora, Illinois has a population of 179,867 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 2nd-largest city in Illinois.

The median household income in Aurora, Illinois is $90,109, with 8.0% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Aurora, Illinois is $260,400, with median monthly rent at $1,535 and a homeownership rate of 66.8%.

The median age in Aurora, Illinois is 35.2 years. The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

The population has declined 8.8% since 2010 (198,207 → 180,710).