Buncombe, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Buncombe, Illinois had a total population of 329, the 1054th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $62,500, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 19.7% is notably above the national average.
Buncombe Quick Facts
How Buncombe Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 341 | 329 | -3.5% |
| Median household income | $62,500 | $62,500 | +0.0% |
How Buncombe Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Buncombe Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Johnson County
Cities Similar to Buncombe
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanaford | 332 | $60,750 | $54,500 | 3.7% | 12.3% |
| Humboldt | 329 | $59,063 | $81,500 | 14.8% | 11.6% |
| St. Peter | 338 | $63,500 | $99,600 | 18.2% | 10.4% |
| Armington | 343 | $62,083 | $93,300 | 16.3% | 25.9% |
| Mapleton | 332 | $67,813 | $106,300 | 24.3% | 6.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 329, Buncombe'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
Buncombe is a small community located in Illinois, within Johnson County. The total population is 329. It ranks as the 1054th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buncombe is 25.5 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 30.7% of the population under 18, Buncombe has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buncombe is $62,500. This is 25% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 19.7%. This is 238% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $50,000. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.8x, Buncombe is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Buncombe is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
13.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% 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 93.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Buncombe, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Buncombe, Illinois?
Buncombe, Illinois has a population of 329 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Buncombe, IL?
The median household income in Buncombe is $62,500, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Buncombe, IL?
The poverty rate in Buncombe is 10.3%. This means approximately 34 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Buncombe, Illinois?
Buncombe's population is 76.6% White, 0.0% Black, 1.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Buncombe, IL?
The median home value in Buncombe is $50,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 0.8x.
How educated is Buncombe, Illinois?
13.0% of adults (25+) in Buncombe hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.