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COUNTY

Alexander County

Illinois · 4,570 residents (2025 est.) · 235.394 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#15Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-12.8%
The short version

Alexander County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,043. Population has fallen 49% since 2000, a loss of 4,715 residents. 13% 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 $59,800. With a median age of 48.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 44% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% 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
4,875
−49%since 2000
from 9,590 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
−41%since 2009
from 35 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.0
+26%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,570 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K6K8K9K11K1990201020202024Alexander County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.6%(176)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(372)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.8%(333)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(301)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244%(196)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.9%(387)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(558)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(545)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.2%(792)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.7%(717)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.3%(356)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.9%(142)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,043
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,042 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,379
+83%since 2000
from $16,084 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.5%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.0%
−7.1 ptssince 2000
from 26.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+9%since 2010
from 0.440 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance10.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing2.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$59,800
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$656
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $265 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.6%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
22.4% rent
Vacancy rate
35.2%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
15.5%
−16.6 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.3
−33%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
32
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Alexander County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.2%(5,968)
Black34.8%(3,338)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(138)
Asian0.4%(35)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic62.9%(3,066)
Black32.9%(1,604)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(33)
Asian0.4%(21)
Other3.1%(151)
Diversity Score
62
+1%since 2009
from 61 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
62
+16%since 2020
from 53 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.4%(21)
Puerto Rican0.2%(12)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(9)
Chinese0.1%(6)
Ancestry
German16.8%(820)
Irish7%(339)
English6.7%(328)
American4.9%(237)
Scottish1.2%(59)
French0.6%(31)
Swedish0.6%(31)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(28)
Norwegian0.6%(27)
Dutch0.5%(26)
Italian0.4%(18)
West Indian0.3%(13)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
Jamaican0.3%(13)
Polish0.2%(11)
Danish0.2%(8)
Welsh0.2%(8)
Czech0.1%(5)
Belgian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.6%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.4%
+20.5 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.6 min
+77%since 2000
from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
87.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% 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
4.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.1%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.5%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 12.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 48.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.8%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.2%
−38.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2012
from 22.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.5%
−70.0 ptssince 2013
from 79.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
61.9%
+16.5 ptssince 2017
from 45.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 98.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.9%(614)
Married46.1%(889)
Widowed3.7%(72)
Divorced18.3%(352)
Women 15+
Never married27.9%(576)
Married40.3%(834)
Widowed14.8%(305)
Divorced17%(352)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Alexander County

Calhoun County
Pop 5,413
Pulaski County
Pop 4,820
Warren County
Pop 5,269
Woodruff County
Pop 5,710
Places similar to Alexander County
Head to head

Compare Alexander County to nearby counties

ALEXANDER COUNTY VS
Pulaski County
Income$42,463−10%
Home value$85,100+42%
Population4,820+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALEXANDER COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income$62,782+33%
Home value$154,400+158%
Population37,975+731%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALEXANDER COUNTY VS
Ballard County
Income$66,164+41%
Home value$145,800+144%
Population7,594+66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALEXANDER COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$55,728+18%
Home value$131,700+120%
Population16,656+264%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Alexander County, Illinois?

Alexander County, Illinois has about 4,875 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Alexander County, Illinois?

The typical household in Alexander County, Illinois earns about $47,043 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Alexander County, Illinois expensive?

In Alexander County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $59,800, and the typical rent is about $656 a month.

How educated are people in Alexander County, Illinois?

About 12.6% of adults age 25 and over in Alexander County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Alexander County, Illinois?

About 19.0% of people in Alexander County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Alexander County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Alexander County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,751 residents, a change of about -54 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9576Census Tract 9577Census Tract 9578Census Tract 9579
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 62914ZIP 62988ZIP 62990ZIP 62957ZIP 62969ZIP 62962
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →