Brooklyn, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 729, Brooklyn'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

Brooklyn is a small community located in Illinois, within St. Clair County. The total population is 729. It ranks as the 800th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brooklyn is 29.5 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 39.6% of the population under 18, Brooklyn has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brooklyn is $30,673. This is 63% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 62% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 44.3%. This is 275% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 13.5%. This is 132% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $37,500. Housing costs are 86% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Brooklyn is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 44.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Brooklyn has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 94.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (94.1% vs 13.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

27.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 97.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Brooklyn, 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.