Ava, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 561, Ava's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Ava is a small community located in Illinois, within Jackson County. The total population is 561. It ranks as the 896th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ava is 35.7 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 28.5% of the population under 18, Ava has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ava is $55,368. This is 34% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $90,500. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Ava is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ava has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.8% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

5.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 86% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ava, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.