Chemung, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Chemung, Illinois had a total population of 239, the 1151st largest community in Illinois, with a median household income of $68,454, which is 18% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 2.1% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Unemployment rate of 15.6% is notably above the national average.
Chemung Quick Facts
How Chemung 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 | 251 | 239 | -4.8% |
| Median household income | $68,463 | $68,454 | -0.0% |
| Median home value | $181,900 | $184,500 | +1.4% |
How Chemung 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+)
Chemung Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in McHenry County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | 40,579 | $108,418 | 6.8% | $311,400 |
| Lake in the Hills | 28,800 | $117,151 | 4.1% | $321,900 |
| McHenry | 28,074 | $86,315 | 4.7% | $266,500 |
| Woodstock | 26,147 | $82,758 | 6.0% | $245,700 |
| Cary | 17,923 | $113,026 | 4.8% | $309,800 |
| Harvard | 9,598 | $67,617 | 11.8% | $175,400 |
| Marengo | 7,040 | $73,523 | 15.7% | $229,900 |
| Johnsburg | 6,386 | $121,023 | 12.1% | $328,300 |
| Spring Grove | 5,917 | $134,210 | 1.4% | $398,400 |
| Lakewood | 4,707 | $173,625 | 3.5% | $552,600 |
Cities Similar to Chemung
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander | 239 | N/A | $118,200 | 18.9% | 0.0% |
| East Carondelet | 233 | $67,500 | $58,600 | 10.1% | 11.2% |
| Long Point | 245 | $66,250 | $91,500 | 8.1% | 9.0% |
| Carman | 250 | N/A | N/A | 24.4% | 0.0% |
| McClure | 239 | $75,385 | $56,700 | 13.8% | 12.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 239, Chemung'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
Chemung is a small community located in Illinois, within McHenry County. The total population is 239. It ranks as the 1151st most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Chemung is 69.9 years. This is 79% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 45.2% 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 Chemung is $68,454. This is 18% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Chemung. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 15.6%. This is 167% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $184,500. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Chemung is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Chemung has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.8% vs 58.1%).
Education
2.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 94% 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 97.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Chemung, 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 Chemung, Illinois?
Chemung, Illinois has a population of 239 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Chemung, IL?
The median household income in Chemung is $68,454, which is 15% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Chemung, IL?
The ACS sample for Chemung recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Chemung, Illinois?
Chemung's population is 90.8% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Chemung, IL?
The median home value in Chemung is $184,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.7x.
How educated is Chemung, Illinois?
2.1% of adults (25+) in Chemung hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.