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CITY

Wood River

Illinois · 10,224 residents (2025 est.) · 6.978 sq mi
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The short version

Wood River has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $62,703. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 16% 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 $108,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% 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
10,279
−9%since 2000
from 11,296 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,473 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 1,619 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.3
+11%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,224 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K10K11K11K12K1990201020202024Wood River
202410K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,703
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,875 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,016
+93%since 2000
from $18,098 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.3%
+22.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.388
+5%since 2010
from 0.370 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance11.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$108,100
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$936
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $497 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 66.5% in 2000
33.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
−1%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
23
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wood River on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(10,928)
Black0.6%(71)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(137)
Asian0.5%(51)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.7%(643)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.6%(8,898)
Black5.1%(529)
Hispanic / Latino4%(409)
Asian0%(2)
Other4.3%(441)
Diversity Score30.6%(3,143)
Diversity Score
31
+437%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.3%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 83.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+54%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 86.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.6%
−35.8 ptssince 2009
from 64.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
Female
48.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−39.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−80.3 ptssince 2013
from 86.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.7%
+13.1 ptssince 2017
from 77.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Wood River to nearby cities

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Income$64,775+3%
Home value$168,900+56%
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WOOD RIVER VS
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WOOD RIVER VS
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WOOD RIVER VS
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Home value$135,600+25%
Population17,873+75%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wood River, Illinois?

Wood River, Illinois has about 10,279 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wood River, Illinois?

The typical household in Wood River, Illinois earns about $62,703 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wood River, Illinois expensive?

In Wood River, Illinois, the median home is worth about $108,100, and the typical rent is about $936 a month.

How educated are people in Wood River, Illinois?

About 15.5% of adults age 25 and over in Wood River, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wood River, Illinois?

About 13.9% of people in Wood River, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wood River, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Wood River, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,211 residents, a change of about -11 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 →