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CITY

Central City

Illinois · 1,067 residents (2025 est.) · 0.565 sq mi
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The short version

Central City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,896. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 290 residents. 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $47,600. The poverty rate of 29.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 46% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
5% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,081
−21%since 2000
from 1,371 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,913 / sq mi
−21%since 2000
from 2,427 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.2
+13%since 2000
from 33.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,067 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K1K1K1990201020202024Central City
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,896
−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,136 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,437
+93%since 2000
from $13,151 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
25.7%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
29.1%
+14.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.416
+9%since 2010
from 0.383 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Wholesale trade0.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$47,600
−26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$840
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $432 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
29.0% rent
Vacancy rate
16.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 27.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.1
−6%since 2000
from 1.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
17
RELATED:See current rent listings in Central City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.7%(1,285)
Black1.8%(25)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(34)
Asian0.2%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.1%(152)
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.2%(964)
Black0.7%(8)
Hispanic / Latino4%(43)
Asian0%(0)
Other6.1%(66)
Diversity Score24.9%(269)
Diversity Score
25
+124%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
5.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.3%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 1.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+32%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
0.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 66.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
17.5%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
Female
52.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−35.3 ptssince 2009
from 42.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 16.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−78.1 ptssince 2013
from 84.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.1%
+15.5 ptssince 2017
from 73.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 99.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.9%
+2.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Central City to nearby cities

CENTRAL CITY VS
Centralia
Income$47,807+6%
Home value$89,600+88%
Population11,863+1012%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL CITY VS
Mount Vernon
Income$55,357+23%
Home value$99,800+110%
Population14,187+1230%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL CITY VS
Highland
Income$82,551+84%
Home value$202,900+326%
Population10,042+841%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL CITY VS
Mascoutah
Income$97,375+117%
Home value$224,900+372%
Population9,239+766%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Central City, Illinois?

Central City, Illinois has about 1,081 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Central City, Illinois?

The typical household in Central City, Illinois earns about $44,896 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Central City, Illinois expensive?

In Central City, Illinois, the median home is worth about $47,600, and the typical rent is about $840 a month.

How educated are people in Central City, Illinois?

About 5.5% of adults age 25 and over in Central City, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Central City, Illinois?

About 29.1% of people in Central City, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Central City, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Central City, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 309 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →