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CITY

Cairo

Illinois · 1,515 residents (2025 est.) · 6.987 sq mi
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The short version

Cairo has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,912. Population has fallen 54% since 2000, a loss of 1,950 residents. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $32,000. Households here earn about 50% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,682
−54%since 2000
from 3,632 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
241 / sq mi
−54%since 2000
from 520 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.8
+21%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,515 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K3K4K5K1990201020202024Cairo
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,912
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,607 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,276
+56%since 2000
from $16,220 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
16.4%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.0%
−14.6 ptssince 2000
from 33.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.492
+1%since 2010
from 0.486 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information23.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance11.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade4.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$32,000
−32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$515
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $225 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.1%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 55.5% in 2000
34.9% rent
Vacancy rate
44.6%
+24.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
32.9%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
14.7%
−18.6 ptssince 2009
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
0.8
−36%since 2000
from 1.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
38
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cairo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic35.8%(1,300)
Black61.6%(2,236)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(27)
Asian0.7%(26)
Other0%
Diversity Score60.1%(2,182)
2024
White, non-Hispanic20.6%(346)
Black75.7%(1,274)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(1)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.6%(61)
Diversity Score47.8%(805)
Diversity Score
48
−20%since 2000
from 60 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.2%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.5%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 67.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
36.7 min
+180%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
87.5%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
18.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
14.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 19.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 52.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
28.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
10.8%
−55.3 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.9%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
Female
52.1%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−32.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2012
from 27.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−67.6 ptssince 2013
from 76.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
56.3%
+10.3 ptssince 2017
from 46.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Head to head

Compare Cairo to nearby cities

CAIRO VS
Sikeston
Income$58,915+41%
Home value$168,800+428%
Population15,983+955%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAIRO VS
Cape Girardeau
Income$55,658+33%
Home value$196,300+513%
Population40,977+2605%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAIRO VS
Paducah
Income$49,915+19%
Home value$165,300+417%
Population26,730+1664%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAIRO VS
Mayfield
Income$40,965−2%
Home value$112,500+252%
Population9,851+550%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cairo, Illinois?

Cairo, Illinois has about 1,682 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cairo, Illinois?

The typical household in Cairo, Illinois earns about $41,912 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cairo, Illinois expensive?

In Cairo, Illinois, the median home is worth about $32,000, and the typical rent is about $515 a month.

How educated are people in Cairo, Illinois?

About 13.2% of adults age 25 and over in Cairo, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cairo, Illinois?

About 19.0% of people in Cairo, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cairo, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Cairo, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,164 residents, a change of about -65 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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