Dowell, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Dowell, Illinois had a total population of 299, the 1082nd largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $55,714, which is 33% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 33% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x.
- Unemployment rate of 13.0% is notably above the national average.
Dowell Quick Facts
How Dowell 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 | 287 | 299 | +4.2% |
| Median household income | $51,625 | $55,714 | +7.9% |
| Median home value | $42,100 | $50,800 | +20.7% |
How Dowell 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+)
Dowell Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Jackson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murphysboro | 6,735 | $44,154 | 14.9% | $85,900 |
| De Soto | 1,654 | $62,813 | 16.3% | $94,700 |
| Harrison | 830 | $77,632 | 10.6% | $176,100 |
| Elkville | 751 | $39,063 | 23.1% | $71,000 |
| Makanda | 612 | $79,000 | 8.3% | $242,600 |
| Ava | 561 | $55,368 | 7.5% | $90,500 |
| Grand Tower | 502 | $46,875 | 30.1% | $39,000 |
| Campbell Hill | 328 | $69,018 | 8.0% | $96,800 |
| Vergennes | 303 | $54,583 | 7.9% | $97,500 |
| Gorham | 248 | $55,938 | 18.1% | $26,100 |
Cities Similar to Dowell
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Lakes | 301 | N/A | $54,300 | 3.3% | 24.3% |
| Vergennes | 303 | $54,583 | $97,500 | 7.7% | 7.9% |
| Boody | 301 | $53,500 | $104,900 | 40.8% | 0.0% |
| Woodland | 297 | $51,932 | $86,400 | 2.1% | 5.8% |
| Table Grove | 306 | $59,000 | $75,500 | 11.4% | 17.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 299, Dowell'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
Dowell is a small community located in Illinois, within Jackson County. The total population is 299. It ranks as the 1082nd most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Dowell is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Dowell is $55,714. This is 33% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.5%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 13.0%. This is 122% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $50,800. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, Dowell is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Dowell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.0% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
10.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 86.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Dowell, 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 Dowell, Illinois?
Dowell, Illinois has a population of 299 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Dowell, IL?
The median household income in Dowell is $55,714, which is 31% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Dowell, IL?
The poverty rate in Dowell is 19.5%. This means approximately 58 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Dowell, Illinois?
Dowell's population is 97.0% White, 0.7% Black, 0.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Dowell, IL?
The median home value in Dowell is $50,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 0.9x.
How educated is Dowell, Illinois?
10.8% of adults (25+) in Dowell hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.