CensusEasy
CITY

Grand Tower

Illinois · 474 residents (2025 est.) · 1.25 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

With 502 people, Grand Tower is a city in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 23.9. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 2% of adults. The typical home is worth $39,000. The poverty rate is 30.1%, above the 12.5% national rate. Households here earn about 44% less than in Illinois as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 23.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
2% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

502
−20%since 2000
from 624 in 2000
474 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
402 / sq mi
−15%since 2009
from 474 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
23.9
−39%since 2000
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1.25 sq mi
Population, 19902024
36948359771082419902000201020202024Grand Tower
2024502
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 515.3%(77)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(26)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410.6%(53)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 192.8%(14)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2418.7%(94)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.4%(47)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 447.4%(37)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.8%(49)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410%(50)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.2%(41)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842%(10)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.8%(4)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$46,875
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,135 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$20,303
+40%since 2000
from $14,525 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
22.3%
+15.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
30.1%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 20.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.408
−5%since 2010
from 0.431 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance17%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical17%
US avg: 5.1%
Information14.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing6%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade5.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade3.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$39,000
−34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$682
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $272 in 2000
US average: $1,442
58.1%
−17.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.4% in 2000
41.9% rent
17.9%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.80 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.82 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
12.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
40.0%
−20.9 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
0.8
−12%since 2009
from 0.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
33
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.9%(611)
Black0.2%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1%(6)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.2%(458)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(39)
Asian0%(0)
Other1%(5)
20
from 0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.2%(21)
Puerto Rican2.8%(14)
Cuban0.8%(4)
Ancestry
Irish12.9%(65)
German10.8%(54)
English9.4%(47)
American8.6%(43)
Italian4.4%(22)
Scottish3.6%(18)
French2.2%(11)
Hungarian1.2%(6)
Swedish0.8%(4)
Welsh0.4%(2)
Norwegian0.2%(1)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Polish0.2%(1)
Section 05

Education

2.1%
−6.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.3%
+22.4 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
0.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

33.7 min
+74%since 2000
from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
88.6%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 73.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
6.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
4.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
2.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

7.1%
−22.4 ptssince 2011
from 29.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
57.1%
+10.3 ptssince 2011
from 46.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2020
from 68.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
12.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
22.5%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

47.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
52.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
3.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
2.3%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
14.3%
−17.8 ptssince 2012
from 32.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
8.0%
−7.4 ptssince 2013
from 15.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
98.3%
+36.2 ptssince 2017
from 62.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2020
from 90.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
98.0%
+5.7 ptssince 2020
from 92.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
95.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
4.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.8%(69)
Married45%(76)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced14.2%(24)
Women 15+
Never married38.4%(68)
Married43.5%(77)
Widowed11.3%(20)
Divorced6.8%(12)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

8.0%
−7.4 ptssince 2013
from 15.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
32.9%
−17.7 ptssince 2020
from 50.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 9.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
13.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2020
from 17.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
49.4%
+14.3 ptssince 2020
from 35.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2020
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
40.6%
−13.7 ptssince 2020
from 54.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
59.6%
+9.5 ptssince 2020
from 50.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25%(2)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era75%(6)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 8 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Grand Tower

Head to head

Compare Grand Tower to nearby cities

Frequently asked

How many people live in Grand Tower, Illinois?

Grand Tower, Illinois has about 502 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Grand Tower, Illinois?

The typical household in Grand Tower, Illinois earns about $46,875 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Grand Tower, Illinois expensive?

In Grand Tower, Illinois, the median home is worth about $39,000, and the typical rent is about $682 a month.

How educated are people in Grand Tower, Illinois?

About 2.1% of adults age 25 and over in Grand Tower, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Grand Tower, Illinois?

About 30.1% of people in Grand Tower, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Grand Tower, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Grand Tower, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 284 residents, a change of about -36 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →