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COUNTY

Pope County

Illinois · 3,672 residents (2025 est.) · 368.867 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#74Highest homeownership rateof 3,14486.3%#84Oldest by median ageof 3,14453.9
The short version

Pope County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,050. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 674 residents. 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 $143,800. With a median age of 53.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 28% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 53.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,739
−15%since 2000
from 4,413 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
10 / sq mi
−8%since 2009
from 11 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
53.9
+31%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,672 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K5K1990201020202024Pope County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(174)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.8%(106)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.9%(146)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.9%(183)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(181)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 346.7%(251)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.1%(341)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.6%(508)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6420.5%(765)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.9%(670)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.2%(308)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(106)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,050
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,048 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,967
+94%since 2000
from $16,440 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.1%
+25.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
+19%since 2010
from 0.362 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance9.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade3.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services2.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$143,800
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$449
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $257 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
86.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
13.7% rent
Vacancy rate
37.8%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
24.2%
−14.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+10%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pope County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93%(4,104)
Black3.6%(158)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(40)
Asian0.3%(12)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(3,317)
Black4.8%(179)
Hispanic / Latino3%(111)
Asian0%(1)
Other3.5%(131)
Diversity Score
26
−7%since 2009
from 28 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
11
−46%since 2020
from 21 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
Mexican1.8%(66)
Cuban1%(38)
Asian origin
Ancestry
German16.8%(627)
Irish14.7%(549)
English11.9%(446)
American9%(338)
Italian2.1%(80)
French1.9%(71)
Swedish1.4%(53)
Polish1.2%(46)
Scottish1%(37)
Norwegian0.9%(33)
Welsh0.5%(17)
Czech0.3%(13)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.3%(12)
Austrian0.3%(11)
Swiss0.3%(10)
Danish0.2%(9)
Dutch0.2%(8)
Finnish0.1%(5)
Greek0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.7%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+16.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.3 min
+30%since 2000
from 22.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.3%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% 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
5.5%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.5%
−9.4 ptssince 2011
from 51.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.3%
−12.1 ptssince 2009
from 55.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.7%
−36.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 21.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.1%
−87.3 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.9%
+18.7 ptssince 2017
from 56.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.4%(425)
Married53.3%(930)
Widowed7.2%(125)
Divorced15.2%(265)
Women 15+
Never married19.7%(309)
Married52.3%(820)
Widowed16.7%(262)
Divorced11.3%(177)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Pope County

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Pop 3,685
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Pop 3,566
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Pop 4,083
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Pop 4,372
Places similar to Pope County
Head to head

Compare Pope County to nearby counties

POPE COUNTY VS
Massac County
Income$65,116+8%
Home value$121,900−15%
Population13,502+268%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POPE COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income$54,271−10%
Home value$103,800−28%
Population3,588−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POPE COUNTY VS
Livingston County
Income$58,984−2%
Home value$125,600−13%
Population8,863+141%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POPE COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income$62,528+4%
Home value$160,500+12%
Population13,363+264%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Pope County, Illinois?

Pope County, Illinois has about 3,739 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Pope County, Illinois earns about $60,050 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pope County, Illinois expensive?

In Pope County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $143,800, and the typical rent is about $449 a month.

How educated are people in Pope County, Illinois?

About 15.7% of adults age 25 and over in Pope County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pope County, Illinois?

About 13.3% of people in Pope County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pope County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Pope County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 634 residents, a change of about -14 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9712Census Tract 9713
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 62938ZIP 62987ZIP 62985ZIP 62947ZIP 62928
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →