Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Lerna, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

226

Median Agei

31.4

Race & Ethnicityi

White

98.7%223

Two or More

1.3%3

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.6%4

High School Diploma

39.7%60

Some College (<1 yr)

5.3%8

Some College (1+ yr)

13.9%21

Associate's Degree

22.5%34

Bachelor's Degree

5.3%8

Master's Degree

2.6%4

Professional Degree

3.3%5

HS or Higher

95.4%

BA or Higher

11.3%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$94,400

Median Renti

$850

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

77%67

Renter-Occupied

23%20

Total Units

117

Homeownership

77%

Vacancy Rate

25.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

20.9%14

$50K–$100K

35.8%24

$100K–$150K

23.9%16

$150K–$200K

3%2

$200K–$300K

9%6

$300K–$500K

7.5%5

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

$1,500–$2,000

Year Built

2010–2019

0.9%1

2000–2009

2.6%3

1990–1999

9.4%11

1980–1989

11.1%13

1970–1979

17.1%20

1960–1969

5.1%6

1950–1959

13.7%16

1940–1949

5.1%6

1939 or earlier

35%41

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

78.2%68

Electricity

17.2%15

Bottled/LP Gas

4.6%4

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$67,679

Mean Household Incomei

$77,580

Per Capita Incomei

$28,484

Poverty Ratei

14.2%

Unemploymenti

13%

Labor Forcei

108

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.3%2

$10K–$15K

1.1%1

$15K–$20K

2.3%2

$20K–$25K

2.3%2

$25K–$30K

2.3%2

$30K–$35K

8%7

$35K–$40K

3.4%3

$40K–$45K

10.3%9

$45K–$50K

4.6%4

$50K–$60K

9.2%8

$60K–$75K

13.8%12

$75K–$100K

18.4%16

$125K–$150K

10.3%9

$150K–$200K

10.3%9

$200K+

1.1%1

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

Avg. Commutei

21.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

10(5.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.5%Insured

3.5%Uninsured