CensusEasy
CITY

East St. Louis

Illinois · 17,682 residents (2025 est.) · 13.925 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the St. Louis metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#8Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-31.6%
The short version

East St. Louis has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $35,700. Population has fallen 43% since 2000, a loss of 13,543 residents. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $52,600. With a median age of 44.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 57% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,999
−43%since 2000
from 31,542 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,293 / sq mi
−43%since 2000
from 2,265 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.3
+42%since 2000
from 31.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,682 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K23K29K36K43K1990201020202024East St. Louis
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,700
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,324 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,036
+106%since 2000
from $11,169 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
21.1%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
32.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 35.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.506
+7%since 2010
from 0.475 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance15%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical14%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade0.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$52,600
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$847
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
39.3% rent
Vacancy rate
33.8%
+17.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.6%
−14.5 ptssince 2009
from 39.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.2%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.5
−24%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in East St. Louis on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic1.2%(363)
Black97.3%(30,702)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(230)
Asian0.1%(24)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.9%(1,531)
2024
White, non-Hispanic2.2%(398)
Black92.6%(16,670)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(219)
Asian1.1%(192)
Other2.9%(520)
Diversity Score17.6%(3,164)
Diversity Score
18
+262%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.7%
+19.4 ptssince 2000
from 66.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+31%since 2000
from 17.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 67.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.2%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
21.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
17.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 18.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2011
from 49.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.1%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.9%
−52.0 ptssince 2009
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
42.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
Female
57.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−33.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 21.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−76.2 ptssince 2013
from 80.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
76.7%
+38.6 ptssince 2017
from 38.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to East St. Louis

Opa-locka
Pop 16,177
Brownsville
Pop 16,936
Bayshore Gardens
Pop 18,131
Avon Park
Pop 10,514
Places similar to East St. Louis
Head to head

Compare East St. Louis to nearby cities

EAST ST. LOUIS VS
Cahokia Heights
Income$33,792−5%
Home value$56,000+6%
Population16,874−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST ST. LOUIS VS
St. Louis
Income$56,160+57%
Home value$197,500+275%
Population278,144+1473%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST ST. LOUIS VS
Fairview Heights
Income$80,930+127%
Home value$177,700+238%
Population16,175−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST ST. LOUIS VS
Granite City
Income$59,205+66%
Home value$104,300+98%
Population26,807+52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in East St. Louis, Illinois?

East St. Louis, Illinois has about 17,999 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in East St. Louis, Illinois?

The typical household in East St. Louis, Illinois earns about $35,700 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is East St. Louis, Illinois expensive?

In East St. Louis, Illinois, the median home is worth about $52,600, and the typical rent is about $847 a month.

How educated are people in East St. Louis, Illinois?

About 15.9% of adults age 25 and over in East St. Louis, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in East St. Louis, Illinois?

About 32.8% of people in East St. Louis, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has East St. Louis, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, East St. Louis, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 22,945 residents, a change of about -56 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare East St. Louis with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →