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COUNTY

Knox County

Illinois · 47,767 residents (2025 est.) · 716.385 sq mi
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The short version

Knox County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $57,030. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 21% 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 $111,900. Households here earn about 32% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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
49,046
−12%since 2000
from 55,836 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
68 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 73 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.6
+8%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:47,767 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
48K51K53K55K57K1990201020202024Knox County
202449K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(2,643)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(3,024)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.1%(2,520)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.6%(3,227)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.8%(3,347)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.9%(5,326)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(5,787)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.7%(5,732)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(6,533)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.6%(6,159)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.2%(3,509)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(1,239)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,030
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,407 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,878
+77%since 2000
from $17,985 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.4%
+17.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.454
+5%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$111,900
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$788
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
29.2% rent
Vacancy rate
11.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.7%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−5%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
29
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Knox County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.4%(49,355)
Black6.2%(3,472)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(1,896)
Asian0.7%(382)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.9%(39,210)
Black8%(3,910)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(3,161)
Asian1.3%(617)
Other4.4%(2,148)
Diversity Score
44
+44%since 2009
from 30 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
−13%since 2020
from 40 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
Mexican4.6%(2,238)
Puerto Rican0.6%(304)
Honduran0.2%(98)
Spaniard0.2%(91)
Colombian0.2%(76)
Venezuelan0.1%(55)
Nicaraguan0.1%(36)
Dominican0.1%(30)
Cuban0.1%(29)
Peruvian0%(15)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.5%(249)
Chinese0.3%(124)
Vietnamese0.1%(51)
Filipino0.1%(50)
Sri Lankan0.1%(50)
Nepalese0.1%(41)
Korean0%(3)
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(18)
Ancestry
German17.5%(8,580)
Irish13.7%(6,743)
English11.9%(5,856)
Swedish6.3%(3,093)
American4.8%(2,358)
Italian2.1%(1,006)
Scottish1.9%(924)
French1.4%(681)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(639)
Dutch1.2%(597)
Polish0.7%(361)
+ 31 more ancestry groups with data
Belgian0.5%(233)
Norwegian0.4%(209)
Welsh0.3%(146)
Danish0.2%(107)
British0.2%(100)
Czech0.2%(94)
Lithuanian0.2%(78)
Swiss0.2%(75)
Portuguese0.1%(65)
Russian0.1%(63)
Croatian0.1%(49)
Canadian0.1%(38)
Austrian0.1%(35)
Iranian0.1%(32)
Greek0.1%(29)
Hungarian0.1%(27)
Brazilian0%(24)
Arab0%(17)
Lebanese0%(16)
Romanian0%(16)
Ethiopian0%(16)
Serbian0%(15)
Nigerian0%(14)
Israeli0%(11)
Finnish0%(8)
Slovak0%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Swedish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.0%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.9%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 81.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+56%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.1%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 56.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.2%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.9%
−29.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 14.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−83.6 ptssince 2013
from 88.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.0%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 69.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 94.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married41.1%(8,526)
Married43.6%(9,054)
Widowed4.2%(868)
Divorced11.1%(2,302)
Women 15+
Never married29.1%(5,853)
Married45.1%(9,072)
Widowed12%(2,415)
Divorced13.8%(2,769)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 48,149
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Pop 48,520
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Pop 47,411
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Head to head

Compare Knox County to nearby counties

KNOX COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$67,385+18%
Home value$105,000−6%
Population16,222−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KNOX COUNTY VS
Stark County
Income$62,878+10%
Home value$104,500−7%
Population5,319−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KNOX COUNTY VS
Peoria County
Income$65,108+14%
Home value$158,500+42%
Population178,553+274%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KNOX COUNTY VS
Henry County
Income$71,911+26%
Home value$151,600+35%
Population48,095+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Knox County, Illinois?

Knox County, Illinois has about 49,046 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Knox County, Illinois earns about $57,030 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Knox County, Illinois expensive?

In Knox County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $111,900, and the typical rent is about $788 a month.

How educated are people in Knox County, Illinois?

About 21.0% of adults age 25 and over in Knox County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Knox County, Illinois?

About 14.6% of people in Knox County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Knox County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Knox County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 7,347 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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16 census tracts
Census Tract 5Census Tract 4Census Tract 3Census Tract 15Census Tract 13Census Tract 10Census Tract 6Census Tract 16Census Tract 2Census Tract 1Census Tract 11Census Tract 8Census Tract 9Census Tract 7Census Tract 14Census Tract 12
17 ZIP codes
ZIP 61401ZIP 61448ZIP 61410ZIP 61402ZIP 61428ZIP 61467ZIP 61488ZIP 61489ZIP 61436ZIP 61572ZIP 61430ZIP 61414ZIP 61458ZIP 61472ZIP 61485ZIP 61439ZIP 61474
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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