Perry County, Illinois Demographics 2026
Perry County, Illinois has a population of 20,639, the 57th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $62,118 and the median home value is $112,600. The poverty rate is 16.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Perry County Quick Facts
How Perry County 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 | 20,810 | 20,639 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $59,286 | $62,118 | +4.8% |
| Median home value | $105,200 | $112,600 | +7.0% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Perry County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Du Quoin | 5,726 | $54,409 | 29.6% | $83,100 |
| Pinckneyville | 5,018 | $69,583 | 9.1% | $133,500 |
| Tamaroa | 597 | $48,646 | 7.3% | $80,200 |
| Willisville | 467 | $55,417 | 12.0% | $57,300 |
| Cutler | 302 | $65,500 | 25.8% | $61,000 |
| St. Johns | 184 | $62,500 | 14.4% | $80,000 |
Explore Illinois Rankings
Population Overview
Perry County is located in Illinois with a total population of 20,639. It is the 57th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Perry County is 42.0 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Perry County is $62,118. This is 26% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $112,600. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Perry County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Perry County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 18.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.
Education
13.7% 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 64% 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 85.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Perry County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Perry County, Illinois?
Perry County has a population of 20,639, making it the 57th most populous county in Illinois.
What is the median income in Perry County?
The median household income in Perry County is $62,118 with a poverty rate of 16.9%.
How many cities are in Perry County, Illinois?
Perry County contains 6 Census-designated places.