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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Pontiac Micro

Pontiac, IL · 1 counties · 35,057 residents (2025 est.) · 1,043.628 sq mi
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#35Fastest shrinkingof 918-8.0%
The short version

Pontiac has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,790. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 19% 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 $142,200. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% 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
35,565
−10%since 2000
from 39,678 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
34 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 38 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.8
+12%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:35,057 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
35K36K38K39K40K1990201020202024Pontiac
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,790
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,342 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,327
+103%since 2000
from $18,347 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.2%
+22.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.412
+1%since 2010
from 0.410 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$142,200
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$880
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $464 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
25.7% rent
Vacancy rate
8.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.1%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+2%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
27
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pontiac on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(36,145)
Black5.1%(2,032)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(1,056)
Asian0.3%(121)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.1%(7,590)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(31,191)
Black3.4%(1,200)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(2,070)
Asian0.6%(198)
Other2.5%(906)
Diversity Score28.2%(10,031)
Segregation Score24%(8,543)
Diversity Score
28
+47%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
24
−7%since 2020
from 26 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.0%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.6%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 78.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+43%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 57.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.1%
−25.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
48.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−42.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−87.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.5%
+12.8 ptssince 2017
from 75.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 3.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

PontiacCENTRAL10,806
What's inside

1 component county

Livingston CountyCENTRAL35,057
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Pontiac

Angola
Pop 34,799
Bennington
Pop 36,630
Detroit Lakes
Pop 35,497
Garden City
Pop 37,505
Places similar to Pontiac
Head to head

Compare Pontiac side by side

PONTIAC VS
Angola
Income$74,911+2%
Home value$216,200+52%
Population34,799−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PONTIAC VS
Bennington
Income$73,325−1%
Home value$279,900+97%
Population36,630+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PONTIAC VS
Detroit Lakes
Income$71,388−3%
Home value$291,000+105%
Population35,497+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PONTIAC VS
Garden City
Income$73,009−1%
Home value$201,400+42%
Population37,505+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Pontiac, IL?

Pontiac, IL has about 35,565 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Pontiac, IL?

The typical household in Pontiac, IL earns about $73,790 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pontiac, IL expensive?

In Pontiac, IL, the median home is worth about $142,200, and the typical rent is about $880 a month.

How educated are people in Pontiac, IL?

About 19.0% of adults age 25 and over in Pontiac, IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pontiac, IL?

About 10.5% of people in Pontiac, IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pontiac, IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Pontiac, IL has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,736 residents, a change of about -10 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 →

Pontiac, IL: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy