Belleville city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Belleville city is a mid-sized community located in Illinois, within St. Clair County. The total population is 41,722. It ranks as the 37th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Belleville city is 38.3 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Belleville city is $60,529. This is 26% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $131,000. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Belleville city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Belleville city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 32.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (32.0% vs 13.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

28.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Belleville city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.