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CITY

Carbondale

Illinois · 21,811 residents (2025 est.) · 17.479 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#43Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-15.6%#138Youngest by median ageof 6,82624.6
The short version

Carbondale has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $32,128. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $127,900. At a median age of 24.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 61% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 24.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,158
+7%since 2000
from 20,681 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,268 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 1,183 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
24.6
Unchangedsince 2000
from 24.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,811 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K24K26K28K1990201020202024Carbondale
202422K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,128
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $15,882 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,315
+67%since 2000
from $13,346 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
22.8%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
37.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 41.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.521
−10%since 2010
from 0.582 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$127,900
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$771
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
26.4%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
73.6% rent
Vacancy rate
19.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.7%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.3%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 64.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
−10%since 2000
from 4.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
33
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carbondale on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64.7%(13,384)
Black23%(4,750)
Hispanic / Latino3%(630)
Asian6.6%(1,373)
Other0%
Diversity Score62.1%(12,847)
2024
White, non-Hispanic54.2%(12,010)
Black26.3%(5,831)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(1,567)
Asian7.3%(1,621)
Other5.1%(1,129)
Diversity Score78%(17,284)
Diversity Score
78
+26%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 47.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.3%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 90.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 23.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+54%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
64.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.3%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
17.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.1%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Female
49.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Foreign born
10.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.2%
−50.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.4%
+6.7 ptssince 2012
from 7.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−85.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.3%
+10.1 ptssince 2017
from 75.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 85.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 4.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Carbondale to nearby cities

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CARBONDALE VS
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CARBONDALE VS
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CARBONDALE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Carbondale, Illinois?

Carbondale, Illinois has about 22,158 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carbondale, Illinois?

The typical household in Carbondale, Illinois earns about $32,128 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carbondale, Illinois expensive?

In Carbondale, Illinois, the median home is worth about $127,900, and the typical rent is about $771 a month.

How educated are people in Carbondale, Illinois?

About 48.2% of adults age 25 and over in Carbondale, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carbondale, Illinois?

About 37.4% of people in Carbondale, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carbondale, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Carbondale, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,875 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.

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

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