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CITY

Olney

Illinois · 8,347 residents (2025 est.) · 6.931 sq mi
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The short version

Olney has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,980. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $99,800. Households here earn about 28% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,577
−1%since 2000
from 8,631 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,237 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 1,245 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.0
+4%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,347 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K9K9K9K1990201020202024Olney
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,980
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,084 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,779
+102%since 2000
from $16,218 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.8%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
−2%since 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade2.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$99,800
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$809
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $389 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.2% in 2000
34.6% rent
Vacancy rate
13.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.3%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
−16%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
39
RELATED:See current rent listings in Olney on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.1%(8,383)
Black0.4%(36)
Hispanic / Latino1%(83)
Asian0.6%(54)
Other0%
Diversity Score5%(430)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.7%(7,867)
Black0.5%(43)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(240)
Asian0.8%(67)
Other4.2%(360)
Diversity Score19.5%(1,673)
Diversity Score
20
+291%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 83.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.2 min
+55%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.7%
−33.4 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.0%
−34.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.7%
−83.4 ptssince 2013
from 88.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.4%
+17.2 ptssince 2017
from 70.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 96.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Olney, Illinois?

Olney, Illinois has about 8,577 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Olney, Illinois?

The typical household in Olney, Illinois earns about $59,980 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Olney, Illinois expensive?

In Olney, Illinois, the median home is worth about $99,800, and the typical rent is about $809 a month.

How educated are people in Olney, Illinois?

About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Olney, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Olney, Illinois?

About 14.2% of people in Olney, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Olney, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Olney, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 88 residents, a change of about -1 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 →

Olney, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy