Oswego
RANK #397 / 996 NAT · #24 / 28 IL · POP 132,795
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
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.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 9.4x — 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.
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 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 60/100, Kendall County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $106,358 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in IL.
By national standards, Kendall County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $288,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,695/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Kendall County's population is growing — up +1.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.1%). Home values shifted +4.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.59% of Kendall County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.