CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Carbondale

Illinois · 21,857 residents · 17.479 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Carbondale micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Carbondale has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $24,093. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $122,700. At a median age of 26.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 65% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 26.6
US median: 38.8
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,857
+6%since 2000
from 20,681 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,250 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 1,183 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
26.6
+8%since 2000
from 24.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K24K26K28K1990201020202024Carbondale
202422K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$24,093
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $15,882 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,878
+64%since 2000
from $13,346 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
19.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
39.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 41.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information15.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 10%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,700
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$698
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
26.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
73.3% rent
Afford Score
5.1
+15%since 2000
from 4.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic52.6%(11,507)
Black25.4%(5,560)
Hispanic / Latino7.5%(1,634)
Asian7.8%(1,713)
Other3.9%(846)
Diversity Score78.1%(17,067)
Diversity Score
78
+26%since 2000
from 62 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 47.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
94.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 90.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
29.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 23.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.7 min
+38%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
70.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
17.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
53.3%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
42.7%
−25.2 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Foreign born
9.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.3%
−83.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Carbondale

Opa-locka
Pop 16,177
Palatka
Pop 10,872
Bayonet Point
Pop 23,822
Brownsville
Pop 16,936
Places similar to Carbondale
Head to head

Compare Carbondale to nearby cities

CARBONDALE VS
Herrin
Income$59,975+149%
Home value$113,300−8%
Population12,268−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARBONDALE VS
Marion
Income$56,912+136%
Home value$158,300+29%
Population17,148−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARBONDALE VS
Jackson
Income$77,105+220%
Home value$240,000+96%
Population16,033−26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARBONDALE VS
Cape Girardeau
Income$55,658+131%
Home value$196,300+60%
Population40,977+88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carbondale, Illinois?

Carbondale, Illinois has about 21,857 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carbondale, Illinois?

The typical household in Carbondale, Illinois earns about $24,093 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 $122,700, and the typical rent is about $698 a month.

How educated are people in Carbondale, Illinois?

About 47.0% 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 39.6% 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 5,176 residents, a change of about -19 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Carbondale with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →