Hurst, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 700, Hurst'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

Hurst is a small community located in Illinois, within Williamson County. The total population is 700. It ranks as the 819th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hurst is 42.4 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 13.9% 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 Hurst is $36,635. This is 56% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.4%. This is 166% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. 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 4.2%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $68,600. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Hurst is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 53.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hurst is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

16.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 86.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hurst, 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.