CensusEasy
CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Cairo

Illinois · 4,846 residents · 6.99 sq mi
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The short version

With 4,846 people, Cairo is a city in Illinois. The poverty rate is 40.6%, above the 13.2% national rate. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 63%. Median home value sits at $20,200. Renters pay $144 a month at the median. Median household income is $11,814, under the $30,130 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $11,814, below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

4,846
+33%vs 2000
vs 3,632 in 2000
1990 – 2025
694 / sq mi
+33%vs 2000
vs 520 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
33.2
−8%vs 2000
vs 36.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
6.99 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K3K4K5K19902000201020202024Cairo
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 59.8%(473)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.5%(365)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1410.2%(496)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197%(340)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.9%(287)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3412.3%(598)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4411.3%(549)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.9%(480)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 645.7%(277)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.8%(473)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 848.3%(400)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.2%(108)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$11,814
−28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $21,607 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$8,148
−50%vs 2000
vs $16,220 in 2000
US average: $14,340
40.6%
+7.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 33.5% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$20,200
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $25,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$144
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $225 in 2000
US average: $450
53.6%
−1.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 55.5% in 2000
46.4% rent
1.7
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic35.8%(1,300)
Black61.6%(2,236)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(27)
Asian0.7%(26)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic45.1%(2,187)
Black53.9%(2,614)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.6%(31)
Other0.3%(14)
63
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.1%(1)
Ancestry
German3.9%(65)
Irish3%(51)
Scottish2.5%(42)
American2.2%(37)
English1.5%(25)
Dutch0.9%(15)
Danish0.5%(8)
Norwegian0.5%(8)
Italian0.2%(4)
Welsh0.2%(4)
Section 05

Education

10.6%
+3.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
61.8%
−5.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 67.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
4.5%
+1.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.6 min
+27%vs 2000
vs 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married42.7%(265)
Married28.4%(176)
Widowed1.8%(11)
Divorced27.1%(168)
Women 15+
Never married40.6%(305)
Married20%(150)
Widowed17.4%(131)
Divorced22%(165)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

9.3%
−13.8 ptssince 2013
from 23.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
28.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 29.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
7.9%
−5.0 ptssince 2020
from 12.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
23.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2020
from 26.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
52.6%
+6.8 ptssince 2020
from 45.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2020
from 8.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
32.1%
−11.0 ptssince 2020
from 43.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
71.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 69.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.3%(24)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35%(36)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.9%(2)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 103 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cairo, Illinois?

Cairo, Illinois has about 4,846 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Cairo, Illinois?

The typical household in Cairo, Illinois earns about $11,814 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 $20,200, and the typical rent is about $144 a month.

How educated are people in Cairo, Illinois?

About 10.6% 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 40.6% of people in Cairo, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →