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CITY

Pontiac

Illinois · 10,806 residents (2025 est.) · 8.407 sq mi
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The short version

Pontiac has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $61,279. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 16% 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 $116,300. Households here earn about 27% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 11%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,294
−5%since 2000
from 11,864 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,343 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 1,411 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+22%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,806 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K12K12K12K1990201020202024Pontiac
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,279
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,593 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,088
+84%since 2000
from $16,863 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+16.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.425
−3%since 2010
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$116,300
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$842
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $451 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
36.8% rent
Vacancy rate
10.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.2%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
34
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pontiac on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(9,905)
Black10.8%(1,278)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(519)
Asian0.4%(49)
Other0%
Diversity Score34.5%(4,089)
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.8%(9,235)
Black9.2%(1,038)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(519)
Asian1.3%(147)
Other3.1%(355)
Diversity Score40%(4,513)
Diversity Score
40
+16%since 2000
from 34 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.2%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.7 min
+34%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 52.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.9%
−28.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
Female
48.1%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−54.2 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.1%
−85.7 ptssince 2013
from 89.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.6%
+13.3 ptssince 2017
from 73.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 94.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 4.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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PONTIAC VS
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PONTIAC VS
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PONTIAC VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Pontiac, Illinois?

Pontiac, Illinois has about 11,294 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Pontiac, Illinois?

The typical household in Pontiac, Illinois earns about $61,279 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pontiac, Illinois expensive?

In Pontiac, Illinois, the median home is worth about $116,300, and the typical rent is about $842 a month.

How educated are people in Pontiac, Illinois?

About 16.2% of adults age 25 and over in Pontiac, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pontiac, Illinois?

About 13.1% of people in Pontiac, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pontiac, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Pontiac, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 134 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

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