Chenoa, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Chenoa is a small community located in Illinois, within McLean County. The total population is 1,647. It ranks as the 549th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chenoa is 39.4 years. This is 1% 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 Chenoa is $65,769. This is 21% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.3%. This is 80% 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 3.4%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $124,700. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Chenoa is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Chenoa has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.2% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chenoa, 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.