United States › Illinois › Carbondale CITY · 2020 ACS
Carbondale Illinois · 21,857 residents · 17.5 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 21,857 people, Carbondale is a city in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 26.6. 27% of homes are owner-occupied. The poverty rate is 39.6%, above the 12.8% national rate. People stay put here: 61% were in the same home a year ago. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 65%.
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 from 24.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 22K 24K 26K 28K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Carbondale Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $24,093
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $15,882 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,346 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 41.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 2.9%
Public administration 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.5%
Education & health services 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing 0.2%
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$122,700
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$698
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 28.7% in 2000
73.3% rent
from 1.93 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 7.0 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 64.7%(13,384)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 52.6%(11,507)
Hispanic / Latino 7.5%(1,634)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 1 more asian origin group with data Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 47.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 90.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 23.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 37.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 76.5%(7,518)
Women 15+
Never married 62.1%(6,078)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.6% 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) 46.5%(440)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.2%(210)
Share of the 946 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
Places similar to Carbondale Head to head
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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 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.
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