Carroll County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Name: Carroll County, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Carroll County, Illinois has a population of 15,576, the 68th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $60,758 and the median home value is $114,500. The poverty rate is 14.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Carroll County Quick Facts

Population 15,576

Median Household Income $60,758

Median Home Value $114,500

Poverty Rate 14.2%

Unemployment Rate 3.1%

Median Age 45.4 years

Homeownership Rate 77.2%

Affordability Ratio 1.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 17.8%

High School Graduation 88.9%

Cities/Places 8

Population 15,576 68th of 102

Median Income $60,758 27% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.2%

Unemployment 3.1%

How Carroll County 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	15,621	15,576	-0.3%
Median household income	$60,871	$60,758	-0.2%
Median home value	$113,500	$114,500	+0.9%

Median Household Income

Carroll

$60,758

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Carroll

$114,500

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.2%

$25K-$50K 25.1%

$50K-$100K 32.5%

$100K+ 27.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.8%

$10K-$15K

3.4%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

4.0%

$25K-$30K

4.9%

$30K-$35K

6.8%

$35K-$40K

5.6%

$40K-$45K

3.3%

$45K-$50K

4.5%

$50K-$60K

9.0%

$60K-$75K

11.2%

$75K-$100K

12.3%

$100K-$125K

9.8%

$125K-$150K

6.6%

$150K-$200K

7.5%

$200K+

3.4%

Employment

3.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

50.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.2%

Renter 22.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $818/mo 16.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.7%

18-34

19.2%

35-54

24.6%

55-74

28.1%

75+

10.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Carroll County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Savanna	2,816	$48,036	18.6%	$72,400
Thomson	1,757	$61,250	21.3%	$117,000
Lanark	1,541	$59,375	12.7%	$96,600
Mount Carroll	1,501	$58,500	14.1%	$86,600
Milledgeville	1,218	$59,417	11.3%	$94,200
Lake Carroll	853	$108,750	5.5%	$348,500
Shannon	772	$58,929	9.7%	$115,100
Chadwick	591	$78,688	3.4%	$85,700

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Carroll County is located in Illinois with a total population of 15,576. It is the 68th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carroll County is 45.4 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 10.3% 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 Carroll County is $60,758. This is 27% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.2%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $114,500. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Carroll County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carroll County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (87.8% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 88.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Carroll County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Carroll County, Illinois?

Carroll County has a population of 15,576, making it the 68th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Carroll County?

The median household income in Carroll County is $60,758 with a poverty rate of 14.2%.

How many cities are in Carroll County, Illinois?

Carroll County contains 8 Census-designated places.