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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Alexander County

Illinois · 5,240 residents · 235 sq mi
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The short version

Alexander County is a county of 5,240 people in Illinois. The median age is 49.1, about 10 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 12% of adults. Households here earn about 49% less than in Illinois as a whole. The typical home is worth $56,100, having risen by half since 2000. The population has fallen 45% since 2000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

5,240
−45%since 2000
from 9,590 in 2000
1990 – 2025
49.1
+29%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
235 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K6K8K9K11K19902000201020202024Alexander County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.8%(250)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(298)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.1%(267)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.8%(306)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(204)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.7%(506)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.6%(554)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.1%(634)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.6%(923)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.6%(767)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.3%(383)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.8%(148)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$34,709
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,042 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$20,450
+27%since 2000
from $16,084 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
15.7%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
26.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 26.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance8.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 10%
Professional, scientific, technical7.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing6.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services2.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$56,100
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$643
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $265 in 2000
US average: $1,124
74.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
25.7% rent
2.60 people
+20%since 2009
from 2.17 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.6
−15%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.2%(5,968)
Black34.8%(3,338)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(138)
Asian0.4%(35)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic62.5%(3,274)
Black30.8%(1,612)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(82)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other1.2%(62)
53
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
Mexican0.5%(28)
Guatemalan0.5%(28)
Asian origin
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German12.6%(759)
Irish5.5%(332)
English5.3%(320)
American4.6%(276)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(84)
Italian1.2%(74)
Dutch0.6%(37)
French0.5%(31)
Scottish0.5%(30)
Welsh0.5%(30)
Lebanese0.4%(26)
Syrian0.4%(26)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.2%(12)
Czech0.1%(9)
Austrian0.1%(8)
Jamaican0.1%(7)
Russian0.1%(4)
Belgian0%(3)
Polish0%(3)
Danish0%(1)
Section 05

Education

11.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.8%
+18.8 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
2.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

30.7 min
+77%since 2000
from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
82.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
10.4%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

7.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 12.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
44.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 48.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
58.3%
US average: 73.3%
25.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

47.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
52.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
0.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
7.9%
−12.6 ptssince 2013
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
72.1%
US average: 91.9%
89.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

7.9%
−12.6 ptssince 2013
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
37.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
9.3%
US average: 13.7%
27.0%
US average: 17.6%
36.6%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
46.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
59.2%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)7.9%(38)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.4%(94)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era37.6%(182)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War7.4%(36)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 484 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Alexander County, Illinois?

Alexander County, Illinois has about 5,240 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Alexander County, Illinois earns about $34,709 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 $56,100, and the typical rent is about $643 a month.

How educated are people in Alexander County, Illinois?

About 11.5% 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 26.9% 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 5,386 residents, a change of about -51 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 →