Donovan, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Donovan, Illinois had a total population of 281, the 1102nd largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $48,917, which is 41% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 41% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 18.7% is notably above the national average.
Donovan Quick Facts
How Donovan 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 | 254 | 281 | +10.6% |
| Median household income | $49,038 | $48,917 | -0.2% |
| Median home value | $87,700 | $87,100 | -0.7% |
How Donovan 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+)
Donovan Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Iroquois County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watseka | 4,780 | $43,608 | 23.4% | $103,700 |
| Gilman | 1,612 | $70,750 | 6.0% | $120,500 |
| Onarga | 1,430 | $78,352 | 8.6% | $99,300 |
| Clifton | 1,385 | $92,344 | 11.9% | $205,400 |
| Sheldon | 1,195 | $44,280 | 19.2% | $78,000 |
| Milford | 1,052 | $46,827 | 26.8% | $74,600 |
| Ashkum | 918 | $78,365 | 5.2% | $150,600 |
| Cissna Park | 903 | $56,667 | 14.6% | $130,300 |
| Danforth | 611 | $54,625 | 26.7% | $151,200 |
| Crescent City | 456 | $58,333 | 3.5% | $116,500 |
Cities Similar to Donovan
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langleyville | 282 | $47,969 | $106,500 | 9.8% | 0.0% |
| Taylor Ridge | 276 | N/A | $181,100 | 26.3% | 6.5% |
| Dundas | 272 | N/A | $77,700 | 0.0% | 7.0% |
| Bay View Gardens | 281 | $52,679 | $122,800 | 8.8% | 18.9% |
| Buckner | 276 | $46,364 | $69,300 | 12.7% | 31.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 281, Donovan'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
Donovan is a small community located in Illinois, within Iroquois County. The total population is 281. It ranks as the 1102nd most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Donovan is 40.9 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Donovan is $48,917. This is 41% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.9%. This is 60% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 18.7%. This is 220% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $87,100. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Donovan is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Donovan has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (87.9% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% 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 95.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Donovan, 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 Donovan, Illinois?
Donovan, Illinois has a population of 281 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Donovan, IL?
The median household income in Donovan is $48,917, which is 39% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Donovan, IL?
The poverty rate in Donovan is 18.9%. This means approximately 52 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Donovan, Illinois?
Donovan's population is 87.9% White, 0.0% Black, 2.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Donovan, IL?
The median home value in Donovan is $87,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Donovan, Illinois?
14.8% of adults (25+) in Donovan hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.