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CITY

Metropolis

Illinois · 5,727 residents (2025 est.) · 6.02 sq mi
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Part of the Paducah metro area
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Notable rankings
#215Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-8.7%#323Shortest commutesof 6,82615.7
The short version

Metropolis has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,399. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $86,000. Households here earn about 40% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,864
−10%since 2000
from 6,482 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
974 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 1,077 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.5
+2%since 2000
from 42.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,727 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K7K7K1990201020202024Metropolis
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,399
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,371 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,035
+69%since 2000
from $15,967 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.2%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
+18%since 2010
from 0.383 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade4%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$86,000
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$752
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $377 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.2%
−7.9 ptssince 2000
from 69.1% in 2000
38.8% rent
Vacancy rate
20.6%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.7%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.0%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
−14%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
30
RELATED:See current rent listings in Metropolis on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.1%(5,843)
Black7.6%(490)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(48)
Asian0.2%(13)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.9%(1,288)
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.6%(4,785)
Black8.2%(483)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(324)
Asian0.3%(18)
Other4.3%(254)
Diversity Score40.3%(2,363)
Diversity Score
40
+103%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.9%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.9%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.7 min
+20%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 86.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 51.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.5%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.2%
−36.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
Female
56.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.2%
−37.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 21.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−76.1 ptssince 2013
from 86.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.3%
+20.4 ptssince 2017
from 54.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 96.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Metropolis to nearby cities

METROPOLIS VS
Paducah
Income$49,915−1%
Home value$165,300+92%
Population26,730+367%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
METROPOLIS VS
Mayfield
Income$40,965−19%
Home value$112,500+31%
Population9,851+72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
METROPOLIS VS
Murray
Income$44,091−13%
Home value$195,000+127%
Population18,964+231%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
METROPOLIS VS
Marion
Income$56,912+13%
Home value$158,300+84%
Population17,148+199%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Metropolis, Illinois?

Metropolis, Illinois has about 5,864 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Metropolis, Illinois?

The typical household in Metropolis, Illinois earns about $50,399 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Metropolis, Illinois expensive?

In Metropolis, Illinois, the median home is worth about $86,000, and the typical rent is about $752 a month.

How educated are people in Metropolis, Illinois?

About 14.9% of adults age 25 and over in Metropolis, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Metropolis, Illinois?

About 17.6% of people in Metropolis, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Metropolis, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Metropolis, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 870 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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

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