Palmyra, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 486, Palmyra'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

Palmyra is a small community located in Illinois, within Macoupin County. The total population is 486. It ranks as the 945th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palmyra is 53.4 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 13.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 19.1% 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 Palmyra is $44,276. This is 47% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.0%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 11.1%. This is 90% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $87,500. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Palmyra is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Palmyra has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.7% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

8.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 77% 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 83.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palmyra, 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.