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CITY

St. Elmo

Illinois · 1,213 residents (2025 est.) · 1.483 sq mi
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The short version

St. Elmo has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,294. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 6% 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 $82,600. The poverty rate of 27.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 46% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
6% 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
1,257
−14%since 2000
from 1,456 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
848 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 982 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.1
+9%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,213 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K2K2K1990201020202024St. Elmo
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,294
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,298
+66%since 2000
from $14,048 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.0%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
27.8%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
+24%since 2010
from 0.359 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction5.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing5.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$82,600
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$762
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $383 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
18.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
26.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
+26%since 2000
from 1.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
25
RELATED:See current rent listings in St. Elmo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.9%(1,440)
Black0.1%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(1)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score0.5%(8)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(1,188)
Black0.8%(10)
Hispanic / Latino1%(13)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.7%(46)
Diversity Score13.2%(165)
Diversity Score
13
+2435%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.2%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.6%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.8 min
+61%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.6%
−8.8 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
20.5%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−46.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 18.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.6%
+13.3 ptssince 2017
from 70.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2016
from 96.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare St. Elmo to nearby cities

ST. ELMO VS
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Income$72,377+60%
Home value$177,500+115%
Population12,406+923%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ST. ELMO VS
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Income$47,807+6%
Home value$89,600+8%
Population11,863+878%
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ST. ELMO VS
Mattoon
Income$51,597+14%
Home value$97,700+18%
Population16,667+1274%
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ST. ELMO VS
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Income$57,552+27%
Home value$104,100+26%
Population10,522+767%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in St. Elmo, Illinois?

St. Elmo, Illinois has about 1,257 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in St. Elmo, Illinois earns about $45,294 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is St. Elmo, Illinois expensive?

In St. Elmo, Illinois, the median home is worth about $82,600, and the typical rent is about $762 a month.

How educated are people in St. Elmo, Illinois?

About 6.2% of adults age 25 and over in St. Elmo, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in St. Elmo, Illinois?

About 27.8% of people in St. Elmo, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has St. Elmo, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, St. Elmo, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 216 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

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

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