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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Carbondale Micro

Carbondale, IL · 1 counties · 52,501 residents (2025 est.) · 583.57 sq mi
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#14Fastest shrinkingof 918-12.0%
The short version

Carbondale has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,763. Population has declined 11% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $137,300. At a median age of 32.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 21.0% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% 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
53,064
−11%since 2000
from 59,612 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
91 / sq mi
−11%since 2000
from 102 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.4
+18%since 2000
from 27.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:52,501 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
52K54K57K59K62K1990201020202024Carbondale
202453K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,763
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,946 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,227
+92%since 2000
from $15,755 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.6%
+15.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 25.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
−3%since 2010
from 0.509 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$137,300
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$782
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 53.3% in 2000
50.0% rent
Vacancy rate
17.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.4%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+11%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
20
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carbondale on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic79.6%(47,445)
Black12.9%(7,694)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(1,443)
Asian3%(1,799)
Other0%
Diversity Score40.1%(23,891)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic71.3%(37,830)
Black13.9%(7,393)
Hispanic / Latino5.3%(2,811)
Asian3.7%(1,970)
Other5.8%(3,060)
Diversity Score58.1%(30,832)
Segregation Score33.7%(17,888)
Diversity Score
58
+45%since 2000
from 40 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
34
−12%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 32.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 85.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+62%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.8%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 57.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.5%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Female
50.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−45.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.2%
+6.2 ptssince 2012
from 11.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.3%
−82.5 ptssince 2013
from 88.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.5%
+14.4 ptssince 2017
from 72.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 90.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

CarbondaleCENTRAL21,811
What's inside

1 component county

Jackson CountyCENTRAL52,501
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Carbondale

Douglas
Pop 52,861
Eagle Pass
Pop 58,823
Glasgow
Pop 56,224
Boone
Pop 54,786
Places similar to Carbondale
Head to head

Compare Carbondale side by side

CARBONDALE VS
Douglas
Income$49,338+1%
Home value$120,851−12%
Population52,861+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARBONDALE VS
Eagle Pass
Income$49,568+2%
Home value$158,700+16%
Population58,823+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARBONDALE VS
Glasgow
Income$50,787+4%
Home value$165,233+20%
Population56,224+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARBONDALE VS
Boone
Income$51,693+6%
Home value$358,900+161%
Population54,786+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carbondale, IL?

Carbondale, IL has about 53,064 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carbondale, IL?

The typical household in Carbondale, IL earns about $48,763 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carbondale, IL expensive?

In Carbondale, IL, the median home is worth about $137,300, and the typical rent is about $782 a month.

How educated are people in Carbondale, IL?

About 36.3% of adults age 25 and over in Carbondale, IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carbondale, IL?

About 21.0% of people in Carbondale, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carbondale, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Carbondale, IL has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,003 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →