Karnak, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 466, Karnak'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

Karnak is a small community located in Illinois, within Pulaski County. The total population is 466. It ranks as the 957th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Karnak is 47.3 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Karnak is $46,818. This is 44% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.0%. This is 146% 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 9.1%. This is 56% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $67,100. Housing costs are 75% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Karnak is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Karnak is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.7%. The Black or African American population (6.7%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

19.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 93.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Karnak, 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.