East St. Louis city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

East St. Louis city is a small city located in Illinois. The total population is 18,278. It ranks as the 137th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in East St. Louis city is 45.1 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in East St. Louis city is $30,992. This is 62% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 61% lower. The poverty rate stands at 32.9%. This is 180% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. 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 15.3%. This is 163% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $52,700. Housing costs are 79% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, East St. Louis city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

East St. Louis city has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 1.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 58.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (94.0% vs 13.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

14.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for East St. Louis city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.