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CITY · 2020 ACS

East St. Louis

Illinois · 18,469 residents · 13.925 sq mi
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The short version

East St. Louis has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $24,009. Population has fallen 41% since 2000, a loss of 13,073 residents. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $53,900. The poverty rate of 30.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 65% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,469
−41%since 2000
from 31,542 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.6
+27%since 2000
from 31.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K23K29K36K43K1990201020202024East St. Louis
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 57%(1,288)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(1,281)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147%(1,292)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.7%(1,236)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(976)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.7%(2,165)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.4%(2,102)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(2,176)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.6%(2,521)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.9%(2,007)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.5%(1,008)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(417)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$24,009
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,324 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,251
+63%since 2000
from $11,169 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
13.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
30.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 35.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance9.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical9.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade7.6%
US avg: 10%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Wholesale trade0.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$53,900
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$482
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
45.7%
−7.2 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
54.3% rent
Afford Score
2.2
−22%since 2009
from 2.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic1.2%(222)
Black94.9%(17,536)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(169)
Asian0.1%(15)
Other0.8%(140)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.5%(139)
Mexican0.4%(104)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(66)
Korean0.1%(16)
Chinese0%(2)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American1.5%(393)
German0.4%(94)
Italian0.2%(60)
Polish0.2%(54)
Scottish0.2%(51)
Irish0.2%(46)
English0.1%(29)
Austrian0.1%(24)
Greek0%(11)
Swiss0%(2)
Dutch0%(1)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
French0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Puerto Rican population · Largest Mexican population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.9%
+16.6 ptssince 2000
from 66.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+34%since 2000
from 17.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
73.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 67.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
25.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 18.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2011
from 49.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
16.7%
−55.2 ptssince 2009
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
42.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
Female
57.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.2%
−73.0 ptssince 2013
from 80.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married61.1%(3,797)
Married21.7%(1,348)
Widowed4.3%(269)
Divorced12.8%(797)
Women 15+
Never married46.3%(4,201)
Married17.7%(1,608)
Widowed17.6%(1,595)
Divorced18.5%(1,679)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare East St. Louis to nearby cities

EAST ST. LOUIS VS
Cahokia Heights
Income$33,792+41%
Home value$56,000+4%
Population16,874−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST ST. LOUIS VS
St. Louis
Income$56,160+134%
Home value$197,500+266%
Population278,144+1473%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST ST. LOUIS VS
Fairview Heights
Income$80,930+237%
Home value$177,700+230%
Population16,175−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST ST. LOUIS VS
Granite City
Income$59,205+147%
Home value$104,300+94%
Population26,807+52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

East St. Louis, Illinois has about 18,469 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in East St. Louis, Illinois earns about $24,009 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 $53,900, and the typical rent is about $482 a month.

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

About 12.3% 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 30.6% 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 22,475 residents, a change of about -55 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 →