United States › Illinois › Cairo CITY · 2020 ACS
Cairo Illinois · 1,733 residents · 6.99 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 1,733 people, Cairo is a city in Illinois. At a median age of 49.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 36.2% of locals live below the federal poverty line. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 60%. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Median home value sits at $29,400.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $27,661, below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 49.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 24%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth 248 / sq mi
−52%since 2000
from 520 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Cairo Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $27,661
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,607 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,220 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 33.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 7.8%
Transportation & warehousing 4.1%
Public administration 2.3%
Education & health services 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$29,400
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$652
+93%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $225 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 55.5% in 2000
41.1% rent
from 1.99 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 1.3 in 2009
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-Hispanic 35.8%(1,300)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(27)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 25%(434)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(20)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 67.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 19.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 52.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 23.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 23.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 6.4%(14)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.2%(42)
Share of the 219 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Cairo, Illinois? Cairo, Illinois has about 1,733 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Cairo, Illinois? The typical household in Cairo, Illinois earns about $27,661 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 $29,400, and the typical rent is about $652 a month.
How educated are people in Cairo, Illinois? About 12.9% 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 36.2% 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 3,113 residents, a change of about -64 percent over that period.
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