Iola, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Iola, Illinois had a total population of 90, the 1348th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $46,250, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 2.8% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
Iola Quick Facts
How Iola 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 | 71 | 90 | +26.8% |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $46,250 | +2.8% |
| Median home value | $71,700 | $65,000 | -9.3% |
How Iola 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+)
Iola Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Clay County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora | 4,475 | $47,148 | 18.9% | $77,300 |
| Louisville | 1,163 | $43,750 | 30.6% | $87,100 |
| Clay City | 723 | $53,472 | 32.5% | $83,200 |
| Xenia | 389 | $45,313 | 14.6% | $90,000 |
| Sailor Springs | 60 | N/A | 11.7% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Iola
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewey | 89 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Springerton | 89 | $45,938 | $58,800 | 16.1% | 10.1% |
| Lake City | 92 | N/A | N/A | 10.9% | 0.0% |
| St. Augustine | 92 | N/A | $49,000 | 4.8% | 23.9% |
| Ripley | 87 | N/A | $43,100 | 0.0% | 31.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 90, Iola'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
Iola is a small community located in Illinois, within Clay County. The total population is 90. It ranks as the 1348th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Iola is 44.0 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Iola is $46,250. This is 45% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Iola, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $65,000. Housing costs are 75% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Iola is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Iola was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
2.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 93% 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 84.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Iola, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Iola, Illinois?
Iola, Illinois has a population of 90 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Iola, IL?
The median household income in Iola is $46,250, which is 43% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Iola, IL?
The poverty rate in Iola is 15.6%. This means approximately 14 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Iola, Illinois?
Iola's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Iola, IL?
The median home value in Iola is $65,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Iola, Illinois?
2.8% of adults (25+) in Iola hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.