Erie, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Erie is a small community located in Illinois, within Whiteside County. The total population is 1,614. It ranks as the 557th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Erie is 42.5 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. With 29.4% of the population under 18, Erie has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.8% 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 Erie is $82,760. This is about the same as the state median of $83,390. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.0%. This is 74% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $151,900. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Erie is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Erie has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.7% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

16.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% 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 94.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Erie, 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.