Skip to main content

Herscher, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 2.2x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Herscher, Illinois had a total population of 1,246, the 638th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $91,667, which is 10% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Herscher Quick Facts

Population 1,246
Median Household Income $91,667
Median Home Value $197,600
Poverty Rate 12.2%
Unemployment Rate 5.5%
Median Age 40.0 years
Homeownership Rate 74.1%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.9%
High School Graduation Rate 99.4%
Diversity Index 10/100
Population 1,246 638th of 1,445
Median Income $91,667 top 30%
Poverty Rate 12.2% 2% lower than national
Median Home Value $197,600 top 30%

How Herscher Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,3021,246-4.3%
Median household income$100,833$91,667-9.1%
Median home value$198,200$197,600-0.3%

How Herscher Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.1%
$25K-$50K 19.3%
$50K-$100K 24.3%
$100K+ 46.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.8%
$10K-$15K
2.3%
$15K-$20K
1.2%
$20K-$25K
0.8%
$25K-$30K
3.5%
$30K-$35K
6.8%
$35K-$40K
2.5%
$40K-$45K
4.1%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
6.4%
$60K-$75K
9.7%
$75K-$100K
8.2%
$100K-$125K
17.5%
$125K-$150K
13.2%
$150K-$200K
12.6%
$200K+
3.1%

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
61.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.1%
Renter 25.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $925/mo 12.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

10out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Herscher Rankings in Illinois

#638 Population of 1,445
#306 Median Income of 1,374
#329 Education of 1,444
#379 Home Value of 1,372

Other Cities in Kankakee County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Kankakee 23,996 $47,514 25.5% $104,900
Bourbonnais 18,078 $81,708 9.5% $253,100
Bradley 15,325 $67,420 7.7% $173,400
Manteno 9,030 $97,634 3.5% $248,400
Momence 3,291 $58,365 10.1% $154,800
Grant Park 1,449 $78,385 9.0% $215,800
Limestone 1,419 $103,906 4.7% $212,200
St. Anne 1,104 $83,077 5.3% $154,900
Essex 1,026 $108,250 3.8% $228,200
Chebanse 920 $65,278 1.5% $161,500

Cities Similar to Herscher

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Sunnyland1,231$90,813$167,80046.1%15.3%
Stillman Valley1,260$87,833$175,80029.3%8.6%
Homer1,245$85,875$146,20014.5%11.0%
Hebron1,261$85,375$208,10018.5%6.6%
Edinburg1,195$89,886$117,10014.8%10.3%

Population Overview

Herscher is a small community located in Illinois, within Kankakee County. The total population is 1,246. It ranks as the 638th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Herscher is 40.0 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Herscher is $91,667. This is 10% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 14% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $197,600. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Herscher is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Herscher has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.0% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

29.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% 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 99.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Herscher, 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 Herscher, Illinois?

Herscher, Illinois has a population of 1,246 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Herscher, IL?

The median household income in Herscher is $91,667, which is 14% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Herscher, IL?

The poverty rate in Herscher is 12.2%. This means approximately 151 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Herscher, Illinois?

Herscher's population is 95.0% White, 0.0% Black, 2.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Herscher, IL?

The median home value in Herscher is $197,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.

How educated is Herscher, Illinois?

29.9% of adults (25+) in Herscher hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.