Centralia, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Centralia, Illinois had a total population of 11,856, the 201st largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $47,807, which is 43% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 24.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 43% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
- Unemployment rate of 11.3% is notably above the national average.
Centralia Quick Facts
How Centralia 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 | 12,009 | 11,856 | -1.3% |
| Median household income | $47,308 | $47,807 | +1.1% |
| Median home value | $81,600 | $89,600 | +9.8% |
How Centralia 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+)
Centralia Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Marion County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | 7,236 | $59,728 | 16.3% | $106,100 |
| Central City | 1,081 | $44,896 | 29.1% | $47,600 |
| Sandoval | 1,004 | $52,841 | 26.7% | $59,100 |
| Odin | 972 | $46,131 | 18.3% | $102,600 |
| Wamac | 804 | $36,500 | 27.7% | $20,100 |
| Kinmundy | 803 | $42,303 | 15.8% | $95,400 |
| Junction City | 638 | $56,364 | 14.7% | $83,500 |
| Farina | 570 | $46,146 | 10.7% | $83,800 |
| Iuka | 534 | $61,146 | 9.6% | $72,600 |
| Patoka | 498 | $65,833 | 9.3% | $89,200 |
Cities Similar to Centralia
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kewanee | 11,913 | $50,886 | $73,200 | 16.0% | 17.9% |
| Rantoul | 12,421 | $48,691 | $118,200 | 12.4% | 16.9% |
| Justice | 12,324 | $57,170 | $238,400 | 21.0% | 19.4% |
| Streator | 12,330 | $57,609 | $94,700 | 12.9% | 20.3% |
| Markham | 11,355 | $57,302 | $135,300 | 17.7% | 18.0% |
Population Overview
Centralia is a small city located in Illinois, within Marion County. The total population is 11,856. It ranks as the 201st most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Centralia is 39.1 years. This is about the same as 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 Centralia is $47,807. This is 43% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 106% 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 11.3%. This is 93% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $89,600. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Centralia is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Centralia is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
16.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 89.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Centralia, 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.
Free data download: Get all Illinois city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Centralia, Illinois?
Centralia, Illinois has a population of 11,856 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Centralia, IL?
The median household income in Centralia is $47,807, which is 41% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Centralia, IL?
The poverty rate in Centralia is 24.3%. This means approximately 2,756 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Centralia, Illinois?
Centralia's population is 80.7% White, 6.9% Black, 3.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Centralia, IL?
The median home value in Centralia is $89,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.
How educated is Centralia, Illinois?
16.4% of adults (25+) in Centralia hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.