Orient, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Orient, Illinois had a total population of 417, the 991st largest city in Illinois, with a median household income of $39,750, which is 52% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 40.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 52% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (40.9%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 2.0% 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 1.3x.
- Unemployment rate of 26.5% is notably above the national average.
Orient Quick Facts
How Orient 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 | 380 | 417 | +9.7% |
| Median household income | $39,167 | $39,750 | +1.5% |
| Median home value | $49,100 | $49,800 | +1.4% |
How Orient 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+)
Orient Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Franklin County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Frankfort | 7,118 | $47,898 | 29.0% | $81,200 |
| Benton | 6,863 | $54,123 | 17.7% | $87,200 |
| Christopher | 2,570 | $48,247 | 20.8% | $66,600 |
| Sesser | 2,023 | $52,604 | 19.6% | $82,300 |
| Zeigler | 1,267 | $41,553 | 16.2% | $57,300 |
| Royalton | 1,214 | $59,219 | 11.0% | $71,500 |
| North City | 715 | $53,977 | 5.5% | $114,100 |
| West City | 662 | $48,750 | 20.4% | $71,400 |
| Valier | 523 | $27,305 | 33.7% | $80,100 |
| Thompsonville | 500 | $46,058 | 18.0% | $84,500 |
Cities Similar to Orient
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beecher City | 414 | $43,750 | $90,800 | 11.4% | 25.8% |
| Lenzburg | 428 | $42,656 | $77,900 | 14.2% | 21.6% |
| Melvin | 430 | $43,958 | $66,300 | 13.0% | 20.2% |
| Mount Auburn | 399 | $43,333 | $84,800 | 15.7% | 16.8% |
| Plymouth | 456 | $41,071 | $56,900 | 8.0% | 24.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 417, Orient'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
Orient is a small community located in Illinois, within Franklin County. The total population is 417. It ranks as the 991st most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Orient is 38.8 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Orient is $39,750. This is 52% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 40.9%. This is 246% 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 26.5%. This is 354% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $49,800. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Orient is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Orient has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.9% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
2.0% 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 95% 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 86.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Orient, 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 Orient, Illinois?
Orient, Illinois has a population of 417 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Orient, IL?
The median household income in Orient is $39,750, which is 51% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Orient, IL?
The poverty rate in Orient is 40.9%. This means approximately 170 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Orient, Illinois?
Orient's population is 96.9% White, 0.0% Black, 1.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Orient, IL?
The median home value in Orient is $49,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.3x.
How educated is Orient, Illinois?
2.0% of adults (25+) in Orient hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.