RANK #407 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 28 IL · POP 137,675
1YR FORECAST: +2.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
The Farnsworth House, a glass architectural landmark, stands as a distinctive feature along the Fox River in Kendall County. Located about 50 miles from downtown Chicago, Kendall County offers a suburban feel with access to natural scenery, including prairie grasslands, woodlands, and river trails. Oswego, the most populous municipality, and Yorkville, the county seat, are key towns within this growing area. Commuting to Chicago is part of life for many residents, with an average commute time of over 33 minutes. The county's forest preserves, like Hoover Forest Preserve, provide opportunities for hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Life in Kendall County often appeals to families, drawn by highly-rated public schools such as Oswego Goal, Lisbon Grade School, and Bristol Grade School. The economy is expanding, with recent developments including growth in non-residential construction. While traditionally agricultural, the county has seen significant suburban development. Major investments are occurring in sectors like data centers and energy, contributing to the evolving economic landscape. Kendall Area Transit provides public transportation options for residents, with priority given to seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Kendall County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.6% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 28.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Cardinal Data Center
Pioneer Development
|
$1,800M | Planned |
|
Project Steel Data Center Campus
Prologis, L.P., Yorkville Nexus V LLC, Green Door Capital
|
$900M | Planned |
|
CyrusOne Yorkville Campus Phase 1 & 2
CyrusOne
|
$850M | Planned |
|
Plano Skies Solar Project
Plano Skies Energy Center, LLC
|
$350M | Proposed |
|
Lasalle - Plano 345 kV Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$280M | Planned |
|
Kendall County Broadband Network
Kendall County Government, Pivot Tech
|
$40M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Kendall County scores 59/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#407). Median household income is $111,601 and job growth is running at +1.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Kendall County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $322,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $1,781/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Kendall County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.7% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.6% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.87% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Kendall County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.