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.

East St. Louis, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

17,999

Median Agei

44.3

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

92.6%16,670

Two or More

2.8%501

White

2.2%398

Hispanic/Latino

1.2%219

Asian

1.1%192

Other

0.1%19

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

8%1,054

High School Diploma

28.1%3,711

Some College (<1 yr)

10.3%1,360

Some College (1+ yr)

17.3%2,280

Associate's Degree

6.1%798

Bachelor's Degree

9.9%1,308

Master's Degree

4.4%586

Professional Degree

1.2%163

Doctorate

0.3%40

HS or Higher

85.7%

BA or Higher

15.9%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$52,600

Median Renti

$847

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

60.7%4,235

Renter-Occupied

39.3%2,747

Total Units

10,552

Homeownership

60.7%

Vacancy Rate

33.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

47.2%2,001

$50K–$100K

39.7%1,680

$100K–$150K

3.4%143

$150K–$200K

2.4%102

$200K–$300K

3.1%131

$300K–$500K

2.6%110

$500K–$1M

1.2%52

$1M+

0.4%16

Rent Distribution

Under $500

859

$500–$750

241

$750–$1,000

471

$1,000–$1,250

602

$1,250–$1,500

208

$1,500–$2,000

144

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

0.2%22

2010–2019

2.7%281

2000–2009

10.3%1,083

1990–1999

3.3%353

1980–1989

5.2%545

1970–1979

7.3%773

1960–1969

12.4%1,309

1950–1959

20.6%2,170

1940–1949

10.6%1,118

1939 or earlier

27.5%2,898

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

70.4%4,912

Electricity

26.7%1,866

Fuel Oil

1.4%100

No Fuel

1%70

Bottled/LP Gas

0.5%34

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$35,700

Mean Household Incomei

$51,857

Per Capita Incomei

$23,036

Poverty Ratei

32.5%

Unemploymenti

17.2%

Labor Forcei

7,699

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

12.8%894

$10K–$15K

8.7%605

$15K–$20K

7.2%500

$20K–$25K

11.4%797

$25K–$30K

4.9%339

$30K–$35K

4.2%295

$35K–$40K

4.1%289

$40K–$45K

4.8%333

$45K–$50K

6.1%427

$50K–$60K

6%422

$60K–$75K

8.7%605

$75K–$100K

9.6%668

$100K–$125K

4.4%308

$125K–$150K

2.9%200

$150K–$200K

3%209

$200K+

1.3%91

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

2,133

Residentsi

3,231

Avg. Tenant Renti

$370/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

25 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing1,280 homes65% occupied$363/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers439 homes81% occupied$436/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8275 homes78% occupied$315/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC139 homes94% occupied$342/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $35,700/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $11K/yr

84.1%

Very low income$11K–$18K/yr

12.3%

Low income$18K–$29K/yr

3.6%

Who Receives This Housing

78.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

98.8% of subsidized households are minority

15.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

30.7% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2531.4%

By Region

Top Countries

India

China

Germany

Philippines

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

6,158

Avg. Commutei

23.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

6,356

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

950(6.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96%Insured

4%Uninsured

East St. Louis, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026