Carbondale city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Carbondale city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 21,813. It ranks as the 111th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carbondale city is 24.9 years. This is 36% lower than the state median of 38.9 years. Only 13.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carbondale city is $29,670. This is 64% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 62% lower. The poverty rate stands at 36.9%. This is 215% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. 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 9.3%. This is 60% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $124,800. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $250,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 26.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 60% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Carbondale city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 27.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (27.6% vs 13.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 18.5%.

Education

46.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Carbondale city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 25% higher 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%. Notably, 23.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Carbondale 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.